MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny men's lacrosse team was unable to overcome a fast start by Franciscan as they fell 16-11 at home in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play Thursday (April 16).
The Barons jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first. The Gators got on the board off an extra-man opportunity when
Liam Kruck (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin) found
Jack Pearl (Ladera Ranch, Calif./JSerra Catholic) for the tally. In the closing seconds of the first, Franciscan added another goal as they took a 6-1 lead into the second.
The Gators struck first in the second as
JP Rakis (Kensington, Md./Walter Johnson) scored an unassisted man-up goal. The Barons scored the next three goals.
Nathan Wheeler (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) broke up the run with a goal assisted by
Gabe Shoemaker (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick). Franciscan tacked on two more goals before
Griffin Cates (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) scored a man-down goal as the Gators entered halftime down 11-3.
After a 90-minute lightning delay, the Gators scored the first goal of the second half as Rakis set-up Wheeler for the score. After winning the ensuing faceoff, Pearl scored his second goal off another assist by Rakis, cutting the deficit to 11-6. Allegheny continued to roll in the third as Rakis scored unassisted. The Barons scored the next two before Wheeler completed his hat trick with just under two minutes left in the frame.
Allegheny trailed 13-8 entering the fourth. Franciscan added to their lead with two goals to start the quarter before Pearl scored his third on Rakis' third assist. Wheeler's fourth goal cut the Baron lead to 15-10 with just under five minutes remaining. Each side scored once more, with Wheeler tallying his fifth goal, as the Gators fell in PAC play.
Inside the Box
- Wheeler tied a season-high with five goals while also collecting four groundballs.
- Rakis had five points on two goals and three assists. He also had three groundballs.
- Pearl notched a hat trick and had three groundballs.
- Cates had a goal and an assist while causing four turnovers and grabbing three groundballs.
- Shoemaker won seven-of-12 faceoffs. He added an assist and three groundballs.
- Kruck had an assist.
- Jared Swisher (Cumberland, Maine/Berwick Academy) caused a pair of turnovers with three groundballs.
- Garin Stearns (Hudson, Ohio/Revere) made 17 saves.
News and Notes
- Allegheny is now 3-1 all-time against Franciscan.
Up Next
The Gators are on the road Saturday (April 18) at Bethany.