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SCRANTON, Pa.—For the second time in four days, The University of Scranton men’s lacrosse team overcame an early deficit only to come up short again, dropping an 8-7 decision to Muhlenberg College in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.
And once again, the Royals had an opportunity to tie the game on their final possession, but they turned it over en route to falling to 0-3 on the season.
Junior Alec Mikrut (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) paced Scranton with two goals and an assist, senior midfielder Will Mahle (Montgomery, NJ/Montgomery) contributed two goals, and sophomore midfielder Nick Mullery (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) had a goal and an assist.
Sophomore attackman Ty Weisberg (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) led Muhlenberg, now 1-1, with two goals, senior attackmanJason Mertz (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) had a goal and three assists, senior midfielder Connor Winter (Boonton Township, Mountain Lakes) contributed a goal and an assist, and senior midfielder Jon Thomas (Manhasset, NY/Manhasset), senior attackmen John Hetzel (Mendham, NJ/Seton Hall Preparatory) and Conner Burdick (Hopkinton, Mass./St. John’s), and sophomore long-stick midfielder Tom Kellerman (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) scored a goal apiece.
The Mules led 3-0 in the first period and extended it to 4-0 early in the second period before the Royals cut the lead by 6-3 at intermission behind goals by Mikrut, Mahle, and sophomore Jake Haimson (Montville, NJ/Montville).
The Royals eventually tied it up with 4:04 left in the fourth period on a goal by Mullery, his first of the season, before Hetzel answered for the Mules two minutes later on a play setup by senior midfielderPat Farrell (Essex Fells, NJ/West Essex), who finished with three assists.
Scranton had an opportunity to tie it up after senior Matt Finor (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South) won the face-off following Hetzel’s goal, but the Royals misfired on a shot attempt before turning it back over to the Mules with 1:03 left. Muhlenberg then ran out the clock to seal the victory.
Senior goalkeeper Adam Schlauch (Tewksburg, NJ/Rutgers Preparatory) finished with 15 saves for Muhlenberg while Scranton junior Nicholas McKaba (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris) was credited with eight. The Royals also received a goal from junior defenseman Keith Vita (Melville, NY/St. Anthony's), his second of the season with nine minutes remaining tin the third period to cut the Mules' lead to 6-5.
Finor won 11 of 18 face-offs to bring his season total to 38-for-54 (70.3 percent). Scranton has now lost its first three games by a total of four goals.
The Royals will return to action this Wednesday, March 4, against cross-town neighbor Marywood University at Pacer Field in Scranton beginning at 6:00 p.m.
--ROYALS--
