ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – Eastern University Men's Lacrosse dropped a tough 10-8 decision to the visiting Stockton University Ospreys in a defensive battle on Olson Field. The Eagles (3-4) slowed down a Stockton offense that came into the game averaging 15 goals per game, but the Eagles failed to capitalize on six extra-man opportunities in the loss.

The third quarter proved to be the difference in the game. Stockton (6-1) scored the first three goals of the second half on the way to an 8-5 lead. With less than two minutes left in the quarter, Nicholas Fanelli scored from Nick Litzenberger to close the gap 8-6, and then the Eagles took advantage of a clean win from Charlie Harrison at the faceoff x for a Christopher Fanelli goal  from his brother Nicholas.

Things looked good for the Eagles down 8-7 with 1:27 on the clock, but the Ospreys responded with a faceoff goal to go up 9-7 by the end of the quarter. Stockton then scored the opening goal of the fourth before Litzenberger scored on a pretty throwback pass from Connor Bachman with 13 minutes left in the game. Stockton goalie Colin Bernstein made four of his eight saves int he final 11 minutes to preserve the two goal win.

Bachman scored the first two goals of the game, but the Ospreys equalized before the end of the first quarter. Avery Porter beat the shot clock with an unassisted tally to start the second quarter nad then finished from Christopher Fanelli for a 4-2 lead. Litzenberger answered a Stockton goal to restore a two goal lead with 10 minutes left in the half.

The Eastern offense then hit a really rough patch. The Eagles did not score in nearly 23 minutes on the clock. In that time, they had a pair of two-man advantage man-up chances. Stockton scored the final two goals of the half.

Ethan Myers made 12 stops int he game as the Eagles had to deal with a 15-to-7 deficit at the faceoff X.

"Ethan did a real nice job," Head Coach Colin Piper said after the match. "Our defense did a really good job today. Our man-down unit held them without a goal in four chances, and our short-stick guys continued to limit opponents' ability to initiate on the dodge. We will need to be better on man-up and 6-on-6 offense as we go forward."

The Eagles will return to action on Friday across the street at Cabrini. The Cavaliers (5-2) won the game 19-8 last year and have owned the historic rivalry.