ERIE, Pa. — The Mercyhurst men's lacrosse team fell to UMASS Lowell 14-13 in a tightly contested match at Saxon Stadium. The Lakers effort included a strong second quarter, where they scored six goals, but were unable to close the match in overtime.

The Lakers commenced the first quarter with a strong start as Josh Mills scored the opening goal, putting the team ahead early. UMass Lowell quickly responded with a pair of goals, taking the lead midway through the quarter. The Lakers' defense, led by goalie Tyler Moritzen, worked to keep the game within reach, making key saves against the visitor's attempts.

Mercyhurst regained momentum later in the quarter with Mills scoring his second goal, assisted by Chase Petschke, followed by a goal from Ryan Mahoney, assisted by Robert Madden, tying the game. However, the River Hawks answered back, regaining the lead with a late goal. The quarter closed with the Lakers trailing 4-3.

The Lakers capitalized early in the second quarter with a man-up goal by Mills, assisted by Colin Tardif, following a penalty on UMass Lowell. The momentum continued as Petschke extended the lead with a goal assisted by Mahoney. Mercyhurst's defense held strong, with Moritzen making key saves, maintaining their advantage.

Midway through the quarter, the River Hawks managed to score a man-up goal, but the Lakers quickly regained control. Mason Blakeman and Dj Neer each added goals, with assists from Neer and Madden, respectively, pushing the lead further. Despite the River Hawk's late efforts, including a goal by Alex Lafreniere, Petschke's second goal in the final seconds ensured that Mercyhurst closed the quarter with a 9-6 lead.

The third quarter began with UMASS Lowell capitalizing early as Griffin Sumwalt scored, bringing the score closer. The Green and Blue responded effectively with Mahoney finding the net at 11:33, maintaining a slight edge. Despite UMass Lowell's efforts, including a goal by James Donnelly, Mercyhurst's Petschke added another goal, reinforcing their lead.

Throughout the quarter, both teams experienced multiple turnovers and clear attempts. The Lakers' defense held strong, with Daniel Schmitz making a crucial save in the final minute. The quarter concluded with Mercyhurst maintaining its advantage, leading 11-8.

The fourth quarter opened with UMass Lowell's James Donnelly scoring immediately after the faceoff. The Green and Blue responded quickly with a goal by Darrin Santos, maintaining momentum. However, UMASS Lowell continued to pressure, with Ryan Proctor and Lafreniere each finding the net, narrowing Mercyhurst's lead.

Despite a series of turnovers, Madden scored for the Lakers, briefly extending their advantage. UMASS Lowell's Donnelly then scored twice more, including a critical goal in the final seconds, tying the game at 13-13. The quarter concluded with Mercyhurst and UMass Lowell deadlocked, setting the stage for a tense finish.

At the beginning of the first overtime, the Green and Blue engaged in several key defensive plays, highlighted by ground ball pickups from Drew Pagano, Mills, and Moritzen. Despite these efforts, the team experienced challenges with turnovers and a clock violation, limiting its scoring opportunities. The Lakers successfully completed multiple clear attempts, maintaining possession but not translating into goals. The quarter concluded without any change in the score, keeping the game at a standstill.

In the second overtime, the Lakers' defense held strong, managing a successful clear attempt early on. However, despite a pair of wide shots from Mahoney, the team could not capitalize on its offensive opportunities. A timeout was called to regroup, but UMass Lowell maintained pressure. The visiting team broke through with a late goal by Colby Frigon, putting the River Hawks ahead. The Lakers ended the quarter trailing 14-13, as time expired without additional scoring opportunities.

Petschke led the offense with four goals and one assist, converting all five of his shots on goal. Mahoney added two goals and one assist, contributing significantly with six shots on target. Mills scored three goals, including one on a power play, making the most of his three shots. Santos found the back of the net once, showcasing his efficiency with two shots on goal.

The Lakers have an overall record of 0-3. UMASS Lowell has an overall record of 0-2.

The Lakers will be back home Tuesday to host Canisius at 2:00 p.m.