By Adam Cohen, Athletic Communications Assistant

MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny men's lacrosse team lost 7-5 in a non-conference match to Mount Union on Wednesday (March 9).

Allegheny opened the scoring thanks to an Aidan D'Amato (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) goal in the fifth minute of play. Mount Union then responded in the second period with two shots finding behind the back of the cage before CT Graniel (Scranton, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) and D'Amato returned the favor to propel the Gators to a 3-2 entering the half. 

In the last two quarters, the two teams battled back and forth to make it a 5-5 contest in the final frame. Allegheny continued to hold serve with Mount Union because of goals from Nick Gralewski (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) and Jack Cushwa (Martinsburg, W. Va./Martinsburg), respectively. However, the Purple Raiders drove in two more shots to the back of the net — both between seven and eight minutes remaining – to seal the victory.

Other contributors included Logan Sharp (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted Falls) and Benjamin Gallegos (Lafayette, Colo./Dawson School), who each provided an assist. Additionally, Ryan Mantione (East Northport, N.Y./John Glenn) paced the Gators in ground balls with five and caused turnovers with four, both season highs.

In goal, Eric Mirkovich (York, Pa./York Central) matched his season high with 13 saves.

Allegheny will return to the field at home against Baldwin Wallace on Wednesday, March 16. Face-off is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday's (March 12) originally scheduled contest at Saint Vincent has been postponed until Tuesday, March 30, and will now be played in Meadville at 7 p.m.