ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Lacrosse dropped a 13-12 heartbreaker at home to the No. 17 Stevenson University Mustangs. Stevenson won seven of the final nine faceoffs in the game and used that advantage in possession to hold on for the MAC Commonwealth win.

When Connor Killion scored off a beautiful move up goal line extended to tie the game at 9-9 with 19 seconds to play in the third quarter it looked like the game would go to the fourth period tied. The Mustangs, however, won two faceoffs in the final 19 seconds. They scored a go-ahead goal on the first one and were it not for a crease violation as time expired might have been up two.

That edge proved to be the difference. Stevenson scored the first goal of the fourth period, and the two teams traded goals the rest of the way.

Killion closed the 11-9 gap to a goal with his third of the day and 12:39 left but the Mustangs scored on a man-up chance with 10 minutes to play. Christopher Fanelli slipped in an off-speed shot from the edge of the crease for a man-up goal with seven minutes to play to again pull the Eagles to within a goal. 

The Mustangs made it 13-11 with another man-up goal with five and a half minutes left before the Eagles turned a huge save from Ethan Myers into a chance going forward. Killion caught a pass from Jake Gottschalk on the doorstep and buried his 25th of the year with two and a hlaf minutes to play.

The Mustangs won the face-off and put together an extended possession. Myers made two saves and another shot hit the post. Each time, the Mustangs grabbed the loose ball and the possession clock reset to a minute. The Eagles were finally able to force a turnover with under 20 seconds left. After a tough Mustang ride, a penalty with four seconds left, and a timeout, the Eagles were only able to get a long-distance effort from Nate Portrey. Stevenson goalie Marc Poust gathered the 35-yard shot cleanly for his 11th save of the day.

"When you are trying to win at the highest level," Head Coach Kevin Wallace said after the game. "The smallest details make a difference. We played well today. We got great goalie play and had some outstanding defensive efforts. We finished our shots at a good percentage. They had the advantage in shots and that is ultimately a difference. They get a few extra shots by earning an advantage on turnovers and faceoffs and it becomes really tough to get over the top. That being said, I am encouraged by how we are progressing. We are getting better in practice and making plays in game. We have to keep getting better."

Christopher Fanelli scored three of his six goals in the first quarter. Nick Litzenberger scored twice. Nicholas Fanelli had three assists. Ethan Myers made 12 of his 19 saves in the second half.

Stevenson has not lost a regular season game in the league since joining the MAC Commonwealth. In 2021, the Eagles lost to the Mustangs 10-9 in overtime.

The Eagles (4-8, 2-2) will play at Alvernia on Wednesday.