TAMPA, Fla. - The 11th-ranked Mercyhurst University men's lacrosse team suffered its third loss of the season on Saturday night after dropping an 11-7 decision at eighth-ranked University of Tampa. The Lakers dropped to 2-3 overall on the season while the Spartans improved to 7-1.

Mercyhurst and Tampa played to a 4-4 draw in the opening half but the Spartans outscored the Lakers, 7-3, in the second half to come away with the victory.

The Lakers trailed 4-1 after the opening fifteen minutes, despite outshooting the Spartans, 6-5. Mercyhurst's only goal of the quarter came from sophomore Derek Richards with 9:05 remaining. The Lakers then outscored Tampa, 3-0, in the second quarter to pull even at halftime. Sophomore James Crowe scored twice in the quarter while sophomore John Plaskey added the other.

Senior Trevor Vargo gave the Lakers a 5-4 lead early in the third quarter before the Spartans rattled off the final four goals of the period to take an 8-5 advantage after three.

Sophomore Keyan McQueen cut the Tampa lead to two with a goal just 1:20 into the fourth quarter. After a goal by Tampa's Mike Morris put the hosts back in front by three, junior Cory Becker responded with 4:05 left to pull the Lakers within two at 9-7.

But, Tampa's Zak Goldbach and Bobby Calhoun each scored down the stretch for the final margin of victory.

Crowe led the Lakers with two goals and an assist. Richards, Plaskey, Vargo, McQueen, and Becker also scored for Mercyhurst. Junior Connor Enright had two helpers in the loss.

Tampa was led by Matt Bilak, who scored four goals and added an assist. Calhoun, Morris, and Conor Whipple each scored twice for the Spartans.

Graduate student goalkeeper Michael Grace dropped to 2-3 on the season after allowing eleven goals while posting eight saves. A.J. Arnold got the win, allowing seven goals with eight saves.

Tampa outshot Mercyhurst, 40-24, including a 27-11 advantage in the second half. The Spartans also held a slim edge in ground balls (20-17) and won 14 of the game's 22 faceoffs.

Mercyhurst will return to action on Saturday, March 21 with its first Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup against the Griffins of Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Start time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.