DALLAS, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Lacrosse rallied from an early 9-2 deficit, but was unable to get closer than two goals in an 14-11 loss against former MAC Freedom rival Misericordia University.
Nicholas Fanelli scored a game-high six goals and added an assist. His older brother Kyle had a goal and four assists.
The two squads played against each other in five MAC Freedom title games. Today was the first time the two teams, whose rivalry dates back to the two schools moving into Division III together in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference.
The Cougars veteran attack group was effective early. The hosts went up 5-2 at the end of one quarter and scored four unanswered in the first half of the second before the Eagles got their legs under them.
Nicholas Fanelli scored the final two goals of the half, including one with five seconds to play, to close the gap to 9-4. The Cougars had a 29-11 edge in first-half shots and won 11-of-14 faceoffs. The Eagles won only 8-of-28 battles at the x in the game.
Avery Porter scored his first career goal to open the second half, but the Cougars countered with three-straight. The teams then traded goals before the Eagles scored the next five goals to pull within a pair of goals with eight minutes left in the game. Misericordia's Robert Wagner scored his second of the game with five minutes left and the Cougars used their possession advantage at the x to salt away the game.
Eastern will host Delaware Valley next Saturday before starting into MAC Commonwealth play for the first time at home against Hood on March 17.
