ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Lacrosse jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and held a 6-3 advantage at halftime, but the visiting Swarthmore College Garnet (2-0) scored nine second-half goals to earn a 12-9 win and spoil the Eagles' home opener. Nicholas Fanelli scored five goals and Connor Killion had a goal and five assists.

Eastern came out of the gate flying and led 4-0 with two minutes remaining in the first. Patrick McClain won all six first-quarter faceoffs and it seemed the Eagles would complete the first half with a clean sheet when Josh Green ripped a ball free with less than 80 seconds to play. A failed Eastern clear, however, turned into Swarthmore's first goal of the game. 

Neither team found the net in the second quarter until Connor Bachman scored on a dive near the midpoint of the period. The Garnet scored the next goal and took advantage of another failed clear to to close the gap to 5-3 with four minutes remaining in the first half. Killion found Fanelli for a goal in the final minute to put the Eagles up 6-3.

Though holding a lead, the Eagles failed to take full advantage of their 9-to-2 first-half edge at the faceoff X.

The game changed in the early moments of the second half. The Garnet won the early faceoffs and led 8-6 before the Eagles finally found an answer. Killion scored from a tight angle after Anthony Firmani won a faceoff. With two minutes left, Nicholas Fanelli tied the score at 8-8 after Brady Palmer forced a turnover and ripped a ground ball free. Connor Gill ran the clear and found Fanelli on the crease. 

The Eagles won the ensuing faceoff and got a good look at goal, but a turnover late in the clock gave Swarthmore a final chance, and the Garnet capitalized to lead 9-8.

Ryan Poole scored his first career goal to tie the game on the opening faceoff of the fourth quarter, and the Eagles won the ensuing faceoff. Killion had a chance in close, but Swarthmore goalie Shane Nachshen made a huge save and the Garnet scored at the other end to take the lead for good. 

The Eagles had possessions with chances to equalize, but the Swarthmore defense stood its ground. The Garnet went up 11-9 with nine minutes left. Bachman had a shot skid off the bottom of the post, and the Eagles had a man-up chance, but the Garnet held their ground. Garnet midfielder Von Mabbs scored his fourth of the game with two and a half minutes to play to secure the result. 

Firmani won 8-of-10 and McClain grabbed 10-of-14 at the faceoff X, but the Eagles went 0-for-4 on extra-man chances and had 28 turnovers.

Eastern will host long-time rival Misericordia on Saturday at 1:00 pm.