ST. DAVIDS, Pa.— A rough finish to the first quarter proved to be too much to overcome as Eastern University Men's Lacrosse dropped a 19-12 decision to the visiting Stevenson University Mustangs. Including four tallies in the third quarter, Frankie Fannelli score a season-high six goals.

The Mustangs (5-7, 4-0), who had scored 82 times in three league games coming into today, scored the first three goals of the game in the opening three minutes and seemed poised to run away with the game. Fanelli and Levi Souder scored to stem the tide, but Stevenson scored twice more before five minutes had elapsed. The Mustangs added three more goals and led 8-2 at the end of a quarter. Brendan Kirn made five stops to keep things within range, but the Mustangs held a 13-to-5 edge in shots on goal in the frame. 

Brett WIlliamson, Gavin Stark, and Fanelli each scored in the second quarter, but the Mustangs still led 12-5 at halftime.

After Stevenson opened the scoring in the second half, Fanelli scored three straight in a three-minute stretch to to close the gap to 13-8. Brennan Kaut then muscled his way to the doorstep and scored to close the gap to four. Stevenson answered with a goal at the five-minute mark, but a minute later Kaut set up Fanelli for his sixth. 

Much of the progress of the period, however, was undone as the guests scored twice in the last 45 seconds to build their lead back to 16-10. Stevenson scored the first three goals of the fourth before Andrewe Collins and Maxwell Forrey scored on the same extra-man chance for the final two tallies of the game. Brett Gougler had assists on the last two goals and finished with three helpers on the day. 

Benjamin Souder won 15-of-31 faceoffs and Zach Puckett finished with three caused turnovers. The Eagles (2-11, 1-2) finished with a 51-40 edge in total shots, but the Stevenson shooters put their shots on target. Max Racich and Darrell Curtis each scored five times to pace the guests. 

The Eagles are at Alvernia on Wednesday.