GALLOWAY, N.J.– Eastern University Men's Lacrosse rallied from an early five-goal deficit to tie the game at 10, but the host Stockton University Ospreys (5-4) scored four of the final six goals of the game to claim a 14-12 non-league win. Christopher Fanelli and Brett Williamson each scored three times and three other players recorded three-point days in the loss.

After Nick Litzenberger scored with three seconds left in the third quarter to pull the Eagles to within three goals at 10-7, the Eagles owned the early part of the fourth quarter. Litzenberger's late goal came just ten seconds after a Stockton goal.

Eastern (4-5) won 18-of-29 face-offs in the game, and Ben Souder played a big role in starting the comeback. Including his late win in the fourth, Souder won five-straight jousts at the dot. Both teams won seven face-offs in the first half, but the Eagles grabbed 11-of-15 in the second.

The first goal in the fourth came after a save. Stockton goalie Ben Blum, the younger brother of former Eastern goalie William Blum '24, stopped a tight angle shot from Frankie Fanelli. Christopher Fanelli hung out in front of the crease to harry the Osprey net minder. Christopher timed his leap perfectly to stop Blum's overhead clearing pass. He punched on the ground pall and fired home a behind-the-back effort to pull Eastern to within two goals at 10-8 just a minute into the fourth.

Thirty-four seconds later, Brett Gougler finished a Frankie Fanelli pass to close the gap to one. On the next Eastern possession, Stockton earned a stop, but Gavin Stark chased down an Osprey midfielder and checked a ball free for another chance. Jack Bradley was on the spot for a ground ball and moments later, Stark swept in from the right side to finish at a tight angle and tie the game at ten with 10-10 on the clock.

The Eagles had a shot to take the lead, but Litzenbergers attempt went un-backed and the Ospreys  scored at the other end. The hosts doubled their lead after a their first faceoff win of the period  and made the lead after forcing an Eastern turnover in the clear.

Frankie Fanelli and Gougler scored goals 22 seconds apart to pull the Eagles to within a goal with 2:41 left, but Stockton stretched the lead to 14-12 on a behind-the-back rebound effort from Josh Graham with 92 seconds left.

Brett Williamson scored the first goal of the game, but Stockton answered with six goals in a five-minute stretch to put the Eagles in chase mode for the rest of the game.

Frankie Fanelli scored from Stark with a minute left in the first, and Brett Williamson scored the first goal of the second quarter. Stockton, however, had an answer. They led 8-3 before Williamson finished his hat-trick with 78 seconds to play in the half.

Down 8-4 at the break, Christopher Fanelli scored the first two goals of the second half. The second of those goals was his team-best ninth extra-man tally of the year. With his three goals tonight. Christopher Fanelli is at 199 points for his career.

Zach Klym and Blum each finished with 12 saves in the game. Blum picked up his first career goal in the Osprey's early run.

Eastern will have a ten days to prepare for a toughen-league test against Stevens Institute of Technology before heading into MAC Commonwealth play the following Saturday.