ST. DAVIDS, Pa. — For the second time this season, Eastern University Men's Lacrosse came up on a the short end of a game against a nationally ranked opponent on Olson Field. The visiting Swarthmore College Garnet (2-0) outscored the Eagles 5-to-0 in the third quarter and added five more in the fourth to pull away to 16-7 win.
Gavin Stark and
Frankie Fanelli each scored twice in the loss.
The defenses dominated early. In the fifth minute, Fanelli opened the scoring after a nice catch on the doorstep. The Garnet leveled the score with a man-up goal with 2:21 left in the first quarter. Though Swarthmore held a 10-9 edge in shots, the score stood at 1-1 after one period. Swarthmore goalie Drew Tyson made six of his 15 saves in the first quarter and
Brendan Kirn stopped five.
As the second quarter started, the temperature started to drop, and the offenses started to gain traction. Swarthomre scored to open the period and one minute later Brett WIllaimson ripped home a shot from 15 yards out for a man-up goal and a 2-2 score. After the Garnet went up 3-2, the Eagles converted a
Jackson Foley caused turnover in to a long possession. On their fourth shot of the sequence,
Gavin Stark finally converted. After a nifty movehe hammered ina. close range shot just off Tyson's off-stick hip to tie the score at 3-3 with seven minutes left in the half.
Through the end of the half, the guests dominated possession and scored three goals while allowing the Eagles just a single shot.
That edge in possession became more severe in the second half. The Garnet won all six faceoffs in the third quarter and built the lead to 11-3. Jack McHenry finished the day winning 18-of-23 draws.
Chasing the game, Eastern scored four times in the fourth quarter. Gougler scored his fifth of the year on a pass from Stark and then returned the favor with a helper on Stark's second tally. Nicholas Cimapaglio and Fanelli closed out the scoring.
Sam Chester finished the game with three caused turnovers and five ground balls.
The Eagles (1-3) will travel to Muhlenberg for a non-league test this Saturday.
