OWINGS MILLS, Md.– Eastern University Men's Lacrosse saw its season come to a close with an 18-7 loss to the host Stevenson University Mustangs in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal. The #11 Mustangs won 17-of-28 face-offs and scored six extra-man goals to secure an 11th straight berth in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game. Christopher Fanelli and Frankie Fanelli each scored twice and added an assist in the loss.

The Eagles (9-9) fell behind 4-0 early but stabilized the game after the first five minutes of the opening quarter. With three and a half minutes to play in the period, Gavin Stark scored the first Eastern goal off a pass from Frankie Fanelli. The Mustangs (14-4) had only an 8-7 edge in shots, but Stevenson goalie Tyler Merchant had five of his 13 saves in the first quarter to help the hosts get to the second quarter with a 4-1 lead.

After the Mustangs scored the first goal of the second quarter, Brett Williamson converted an extra-man chance to close the gap back to three goals. That tally would be Eastern's only extra-man goal of the evening. The Eagles finished 1-for-4 with an extra player. The Mustangs scored six times with an extra player in the first three quarters.

Stevenson scored six of the final eight goals of the first half to grab control of the game. Nick Litzenberger had a goal and an assist in the stretch to extend his multi-point game streak to 27 games. It was the 16th time this season that the All-MAC Commonwealth midfielder registered a goal and an assist in a game. He finishes his career with 212 points. IN his four years at Eastern, Litzenberger has improved both his goal and assist totals. He finishes his final season with 74 points. That total is the seventh highest single-season total in program history, and it is the only season in the top 20 by a pure midfielder.

The two three-goal runs had the hosts up 11-4 at the break. More troubling, the Mustangs would start the second half with the ball and an extra player for nearly two minutes. Stevenson scored the first four goals of the second half to go up 15-4 before the third quarter was halfway over.

Christopher Fanelli set up his brother for a goal to stop the run and four minutes later grabbed a tough ground ball and dunked home a shot from in close to get on the board. Christopher Fanelli scored the first goal of the fourth quarter for the final goal of his career. He finishes his career with 232 points. HIs 66-point senior season is tied for the 11th best single-season total of all time. HIs 161 career goals puts him third on the Eastern all-time list behind his brother Nicholas Fanelli and Grant Ferguson.

Zachary Klym made nine saves before giving way to fellow senior Ben Connolly late in the game.

Eastern and Stevenson met in last year's MAC Commonwealth title game. That game was the only championship game since York came into he league that has not included both York and Stevenson. Stevenson will travel to York for a Championship game on Saturday.