EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette men's lacrosse team just couldn't hang on in the final minutes on Tuesday evening at Fisher Stadium as a 5-1 fourth-quarter run brought Cleveland State back as the Vikings stole a 10-9 game from the Maroon and White.

The Leopards controlled the game for 54 minutes, jumping out to a 4-0 lead into the second quarter and carrying a 9-6 advantage with less than six minutes remaining. Unfortunately, momentum swung the other way from that point forward as a man-down goal was the second of a four-goal run from the visiting Vikings in the final 5:42.

Facing some of the toughest competition at the X in the country in Cleveland State's Danny Tesler, Lafayette still ended up with a chance late as it allowed the faceoff win, but forced a turnover, calling timeout with the ball and 26 seconds to play, down one. Out of the break, though, senior Connar Dehnert couldn't break through a double-team unscathed, as the ball trickled off his stick and the Vikings closed it out.

Sophomore Andrew Robbins was the Leopards' top offensive weapon on the night, netting a hat trick with an assist, while senior co-captain Conor Walters added a pair of scores. Freshman Cole Dutton added a multiple-point night as well with a goal and an assist on his stat line.

Rookie Ryan Ness made seven saves between the pipes in his fourth loss of the season, and Cleveland State's Caleb Espinoza and Stephen Russo stopped eight shots between them. Russo picked up the win with his second-half effort, the first of his 2019 campaign.

The Vikings held 39-28 and 38-27 edges in shots and ground balls, respectively, and controlled the X with 19 wins on 23 faceoffs. Lafayette forced the visitors into 23 turnovers and committed just 17 of its own.

The Leopards return to Patriot League action in their next contest on Sunday, traveling across town to No. 16/20 Lehigh for a 1 p.m. clash with the Mountain Hawks.