Tim Dolan	Connor Kirkwood	Collin Purdy

Box score

TOWSON, Md. – The University of Scranton men's lacrosse team rallied late in its Landmark Conference opener at Goucher on Saturday, but could not complete the comeback in a 12-10 loss to the Gophers at Beldon Field.

Goucher (6-4, 1-0 Landmark) led 7-5 at halftime and pushed its advantage to 11-6 after three periods. After the team's traded goals in the first 3:13 of the fourth period, neither team scored until there was less than five minutes left. That's when the Royals (6-4, 1-0 Landmark) rippled the net three times in a two-minute span to pull within 12-10 with 2:37 left.

The Royals had three more shots in the final minutes, but two were saved by the Gophers' goalie and one sailed wide.

Junior attackman Tim Dolan (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) led the Royals with a career-high five points on four goals and an assist. Sophomore attackman Connor Kirkwood (Millburn, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) finished with three goals. Sophomore midfielder Quinn Killeen (Berkeley Heights, N.J./New Providence) added a goal and an assist, and senior midfielder Jack Kiess (Glen Rock, N.J./Ramapo) and sophomore attackman Mike Modesti (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) both had a goal.

Senior midfielder Conor Carey (Long Beach, N.Y./Chaminade) had a team-high three goals in the defeat. Senior midfielder Casey Green (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) finished with two assists, and junior midfielder Adam Maiale (Blue Bell, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), sophomore midfielder Joe Hill (South Hempstead, N.Y./South Side) and freshman midfielder Daniel Mallay (South Hempstead, N.Y./South Side) each had one assist.

Freshman midfielder Collin Purdy (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 19 of 23 while finishing with a team-high nine ground balls. Kirkwood and senior defenseman Kieran Pues (Long Beach, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) added four ground balls each. Sophomore defenseman Gordon Paul (Ocean, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) had a team-high four caused turnovers while Pues and Maiale had two each.

The Royals held a slim edge in ground balls, 37-34, and completed 11 of 13 clear attempts. Scranton committed 22 turnovers and went 2-for-6 in man-up situations.

Goucher held a 35-31 edge in shots and 16-9 in saves. The Gophers committed 19 turnovers, completed 17 of 27 clear attempts and went 1-for-5 in man-up situations.

The Royals will return to action on Thursday, March 30, when they host Catholic in a Landmark Conference matchup at 1 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field.

--ROYALS--