Box Score
Box Score
CORTLAND, N.Y. - Junior Jalen Holmes (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) scored four goals, three of which came in the fourth quarter to rally The University of Scranton men's lacrosse team on Saturday at 19th-ranked Cortland, but the run fell just short for the Royals in a 10-9 defeat on the road.
With the loss, Scranton dropped to 2-4 overall for the year, while Cortland improved to 2-1 with the close victory.
To open play Saturday, Cortland showed why they are ranked in the Top 20 nationally, as they came out and jumped on Scranton in the first quarter, opening a 4-1 lead. But, in the second, Scranton clawed back in it with back-to-back goals, and despite giving up a tally before halftime, only trailed, 5-3, entering intermission.
But, out of the break, Cortland took control, scoring four out of five goals to take a 9-4 lead on Scranton in the final moments of the third quarter. The Royals did end the period strong with a goal, but Cortland still entered the final period holding on to a 9-5 lead.
To open the fourth, it seemed Cortland was about to finish the game off, as they quickly countered a Scranton goal (that cut their lead to 9-6) with a score of their own to take a 10-6 lead on the Royals with 10:16 to go.
But, as they've had the entire season up to this point, the Royals did now bow down from a challenge, going on a run to end the game that almost sent things to overtime.
First, with 8:25 left, Holmes took advantage of a man-up chance to score off an assist from junior Brian Dignen (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) to make it a 10-7 game. After winning a face-off, senior Michael Elefonte (Kinnelon, N.J/Kinnelon) tacked on a goal to make it a 10-8 score with 7:27 left.
This would be the last goal for either team until the final moments of regulation, as with 17 seconds left, Holmes scored his fourth goal of the day (and third of the quarter) to cut the Cortland lead all the way down to 10-9.
On the next critical faceoff, the Royals won and Holmes was able to collect the ground ball. He then sprinted toward the net and got a shot off with five seconds left. But, the attempt was saved, then collected by Cortland's goalie with no time remaining, thus preserving the win for Cortland.
Overall, Holmes was impressive on the day, as he scored four goals in one game for the first time in his career in the defeat. He also had three ground balls on the day, as well.
Elsewhere, five other players scored goals on the day for the Royals, Elefonte (who also had an assist), sophomore Cole Lukasiewicz (Havertown, Pa./Haverford), senior Kieran Fallon (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) (who also had an assist), junior Collin Purdy (Hillsborough, N.Y./Hillsborough), and sophomore Mike Bouhall (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook).
In the ground ball department, Elefonte once again led the way with six for Scranton, while Purdy had four. And, in goal, junior Shayne Fallon (West Deptford, N.J/West Deptford) made 12 saves on the afternoon in a losing effort.
The University of Scranton men's lacrosse team returns to action on Wednesday, as they travel to Wesleyan for another non-conference road game. Things get underway at 3 p.m.
--ROYALS--
