Lowell, Mass. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Men's Lacrosse team suffered a 15-7 defeat against UMass Lowell on Friday afternoon at Cushing Field. Despite a strong second-half push, the Lakers couldn't recover from a slow start as the River Hawks controlled possession and capitalized on key scoring opportunities. 

How It Happened: 

UMass Lowell came out firing, scoring four unanswered goals in the first quarter to take a commanding early lead. The River Hawks extended their advantage to 9-2 by halftime, with Danny Burke and Johnny Soi leading the offensive charge. 

Mercyhurst responded in the third quarter with three goals, including a pair from Ethan Landymore, but UMass Lowell continued to maintain their lead. The Lakers closed the gap to 11-7 midway through the fourth quarter after goals from Ryan Mahoney and Jonas Aquilla, but the River Hawks pulled away with four late goals to secure the victory. 

Notable Performances: 

• Ethan Landymore led the Lakers with two goals, both on the man-up advantage. 

• Ryan Mahoney also tallied two goals, adding key offensive support. 

• Chase Petschke, Dylan Neer, and Jonas Aquilla each recorded a goal. 

• Jérémi Phoenix-Lefebvre and Colin Tardif each added an assist. 

• Goalkeeper Tyler Moritzen made 18 saves, facing 43 shots. 

Team Stats: 

• Shots on Goal: Mercyhurst 14, UMass Lowell 33 

• Faceoffs Won: Mercyhurst 4, UMass Lowell 20 

• Ground Balls: Mercyhurst 19, UMass Lowell 37 

• Clears: Mercyhurst 23-23, UMass Lowell 19-21 

• Extra-Man Opportunities: Mercyhurst 2-for-3, UMass Lowell 1-for-7 

Up Next: 

The Lakers (0-2) will look to bounce back as they return home to face Queens University of Charlotte at Saxon Stadium next Saturday. Faceoff is scheduled for 12 PM.