Box score
The University of Scranton men's lacrosse team battled eighth-ranked Cortland State throughout the afternoon at soggy Fitzpatrick Field on Wednesday, but came away with a 9-7 defeat in the season opener for both squads.
The Royals (0-1) received two goals and an assist from senior midfielder Josh Kasman (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) and two goals from senior midfielder Alec Mikrut (Belle Mead, N.J./Montgomery). Junior attacker John Sheridan (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) added a pair of assists.
Scranton struck first against Cortland State, ranked eighth in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, when freshman attackman Matt Haemmerle (Hillsdale, N.J./Bergen Catholic) scored 4:13 into the contest. But Cortland State (1-0) answered with three straight goals for a 3-1 lead at the end of a period.
The Royals bounced back when Kasman scored twice in the opening 4:38 of the second period, both on assists by Sheridan. But Cortland had the answer again, scoring three straight goals and closing out the half with a 6-3 lead.
Senior midfielder Brad Elkin (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep) cut the Scranton deficit to 6-4 early in the third period before the Red Dragons scored twice to push the lead to 8-4. Royals junior attackman Jake Haimson (Montville, N.J./Montville) gave the team life with a goal 10 seconds before the end of the period.
Scranton won the draw to start the final period, but could not score, and the Red Dragons made the Royals pay with a goal for a 9-5 lead with 11:12 remaining. Mikrut breathed some life into the Scranton hopes with a goal at the 3:34 mark and another with 53 seconds left, but the rally stalled there.
The Royals finished with a 33-29 edge in ground balls, but committed 21 turnovers to 14 for Cortland State. Shots were nearly even at 35-34 in favor of Cortland, and the Royals won 12 of 19 faceoffs behind the play of sophomore midfielder Adam Drury (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) in the circle.
Sophomore midfielder Conor Carey (Long Beach, N.Y./Chaminade) led Scranton with six ground balls while junior defender Sean Ebert (Woolwich Township, N.J./St. Joseph's Prep) and senior goalkeeper Nicholas McKaba (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris) had four each. McKaba finished with seven saves and Ebert had two caused turnovers.
The Royals are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Allentown, Pa. to take on Muhlenberg in a non-conference matchup at 12 p.m.
--ROYALS--
