Box Score

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Lafayette men's lacrosse team hung tough through three quarters on Tuesday evening in Cleveland, Ohio. However, a 5-0 run from Cleveland State in the final 15 minutes proved to be the difference in a 12-6 defeat.

Lafayette kicked off its spring break contest by trading a pair of goals through the opening quarter with the score at 2-2 into the second. The teams again scored two apiece, but a Vikings tally with 1:35 to play took the game into the break with the advantage on the home side, 5-4.

Cleveland State came out in the third and extended its lead to three at 7-4 to force a Lafayette timeout. Out of that huddle, the Leopards responded as senior co-captain Will McCarthy and Conor Walters each notched unassisted tallies to bring the Maroon and White within one, 7-6.

The fourth quarter was all Cleveland State, though, as turnovers led to a tilted field. The Vikings scored all five goals in the final period to drop Lafayette to 2-6 overall this season and improve their own record to 2-6 as well.

Walters had a solid game offensively for the Leopards, registering two goals and two assists for four points to lead the way. McCarthy, fellow co-captain James Roberts, Luke Smith and Robbie Garavente were the other goal-scorers for Lafayette.

Junior Jonathan Anastos again did all he could between the pipes, making 12 saves, the seventh time in eight games with double-digit saves. On the other side, Stephen Russo made 11 stops to accompany his six goals allowed, moving to 2-2 this season.

The home side led in shots (44-35) and ground balls (35-34). The Leopards won the battle at the X, winning 12-of-22 faceoffs, and neither team converted on the game's five extra-man opportunities.

Next up for the Maroon and White is a return home on Saturday to host archrival Lehigh at Fisher Stadium at 1 p.m.