VESTAL, N.Y. — The Mercyhurst men's lacrosse team fell to Binghamton 12-6 at Bearcats Sports Complex on Friday. The Lakers recorded 13 successful faceoffs, but could not capitalize on the advantage, while Binghamton's offense secured the win with a balanced effort.

Mercyhurst began the first quarter with an early lead, as Liam Manion scored the first goal of his Laker career at 14:26 with an assist from Matthew Belles. Ryan Mahoney extended the advantage with a goal at 11:51, bringing the score to 2-1. Ben Carey added another goal at 7:21, assisted by Drew Pagano, further extending the lead to 3-1.

Mahoney scored again at 5:21, assisted by Darrin Santos, pushing the Lakers ahead to 4-1. However, Binghamton responded with a goal by Riley Jenkins at 2:48, followed by another team goal at 1:56, which tied the score at 4-4. The quarter concluded with a goal by Tyler Martini for Binghamton at 00:37, ending the first quarter with a score of 4-4.

The Lakers began the second quarter with momentum, winning the faceoff and controlling possession. Despite early missed shots, Robert Madden found the net at 10:08, leveling the score. Shortly after, Mason Blakeman, assisted by Chase Petschke, scored at 8:48, giving Mercyhurst a lead.

The Bearcats responded with a man-up goal by Ryan Meyers at 6:09, tying the game once again. The Lakers maintained pressure but faced turnovers and another penalty. As the quarter closed, both teams were tied at 6-6, setting up a competitive final stretch.

The Bearcats opened the third quarter with a strong defensive stand, but the Lakers maintained its resilience. Despite winning multiple faceoffs, including by Griffin Stevens at the 15:00 and 4:27 marks, the Lakers struggled to capitalize on possession due to turnovers.

Binghamton's Andrew Girolamo scored twice, first at 4:27 and again at 3:17, extending the home team's advantage. The Lakers continued to battle for ground balls and possession, but the Bearcatsadded two more goals, widening the lead.

As the third quarter concluded, Mercyhurst faced a 10-6 deficit, failing to find the net in the quarter.

Mercyhurst faced a challenging fourth quarter against Binghamton, as both teams struggled to find early scoring opportunities. Darrin Santos and Blakeman both tested the Binghamton goalie, Connor Winters, but were unable to capitalize. Despite Binghamton's frequent attempts, the Lakers' Tyler Moritzen made a crucial save to keep the game within reach.

Midway through the quarter, Mercyhurst's defense, led by Brice Beetow and Brenton Paladino, caused turnovers and maintained pressure. However, Binghamton managed to break through with two goals by Drew Filanowski, widening the gap. The Lakers continued to push forward, with efforts from Mahoney and Colin Tardif, but were unable to convert before the final whistle.

The quarter concluded with Binghamton extending its lead to a 12-6 victory over Mercyhurst.

Mahoney led the offensive efforts with two goals, including one unassisted, showcasing his ability to find the net. Carey also contributed significantly with a goal on his sole shot attempt, demonstrating efficiency in his shooting. Madden added to the scoring with one goal from two shots, both of which were on target. Stevens controlled the face-off circle, winning 12 out of 17 face-offs, which helped maintain possession and create opportunities for the team.

The Lakers have a record of 1-5. Binghamton has a record of 1-4. The Lakers will face St. Bonaventure at home Tuesday, March 3 at 2:00PM.