ITHACA, N.Y. – The University of Scranton men's lacrosse team (2-5) put together a fourth quarter rally, but the comeback bid came up just short in a 15-12 loss to the Ithaca Bombers (3-2) on Saturday afternoon at Higgins Stadium in Ithaca.
A goal from sophomore Quinn Carson (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) with 3:35 left brought the Royals within three at 15-12, but Ithaca was able to hold the visitors off the scoreboard over the final three plus minutes to secure the victory.
Senior Matthew McAree (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) opened the scoring for Scranton just 1:18 into the contest before the Bombers then scored four of the next five goals to make it a 4-2 game late in the first quarter. Fellow senior Alex Eglitis (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) found the back of the net with 2:39 left in the period that brought the Royals within one at 4-3. Early in the second quarter, senior Joe Boyle (Huntington, N.Y./St. Anthony's) tied the game at four apiece and McAree added his second of the game for a five-all deadlock with 9:50 left. Ithaca was able to answer just 0:32 later and eventually held a 9-5 lead at halftime.
Following goals from Eglitis and junior Colin Hughes (Massapequa, N.Y./Chaminade) in the third quarter that trimmed the deficit to two at 9-7, the Bombers' Charlie Niebuhr tallied four consecutive goals that stretched the lead to 13-7. Ithaca led 13-8 at the end of three and held a 15-8 edge in the fourth before McAree scored three straight goals of his own to start the rally and Carson's late tally made it a 15-12 game.
McAree led the Royals with five goals on the day and Eglitis added a hat trick, while four other players recorded one goal apiece.
Junior John O'Connor (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) collected three ground balls in the contest and sophomore goalie Declan Allen (Garden City, N.Y./Millbrook) made seven saves.
Niebuhr had five goals to lead the Bombers and John Sramac added six points on four goals and two assists.
Scranton returns to action on Saturday, Mar. 16 against Trinity (Conn.) in a neutral site game on the campus of Saint Joe's (LI) in Patchogue, N.Y at 2 p.m.
--ROYALS--
