Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - In a back-and-forth affair throughout the afternoon, the Lafayette men's lacrosse team was outlasted by Wagner in Staten Island, N.Y. on Friday by a score of 9-8.

After trailing by a 7-5 margin with less than two minutes to play in the third quarter, the Leopards rallied as two scores from Will McCarthy knotted the game at seven with 6:28 to play. However, Wagner's Joe Lomeli beat Lafayette sophomore goalie Johnathan Anastos at 3:44 and the Seahawks added another a minute later to push the game out of reach.

Scott McAvoy was able to score with 11 seconds left, but the Leopards couldn't find another answer as the clock sounded on a 9-8 defeat. The Leopards fall to 0-2 on the season, heading into their Patriot League opener next Saturday.

Jason Sands led the Leopards offensively with four points on three assists and a goal, with Scott McAvoy right behind him at two goals and an assist for three points. McCarthy chipped in with two goals and Connar Dehnert added two assists. Kevin Lewis, Conor Walters and Keegan Hickey were the other scorers for the Maroon and White.

Anastos was solid between the pipes, making eight saves in defeat. However, Wagner goalie Matt Sefcik stood on his head for the home side, coming up with 17 saves on the afternoon to help the Seahawks to a defensive victory.

Michael Sullivan was solid at the X, winning 14 of the game's 21 faceoffs, and the Leopards led in most of the other statistical categories as well. Shots favored Lafayette at 38-36, groundballs were 29-21 and the Leopards forced 17 Wagner turnovers compared to just 13 of their own.

No. 9 Loyola visits Fisher Stadium next Saturday for Lafayette's first Patriot League matchup. Opening faceoff in that contest is set for 12 p.m.