Jacksonville, Fla. – The
Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team dropped an 18-13 decision to Jacksonville University this afternoon from D.B. Milne Field.
Robert Morris (1-5, 0-0 NEC) took a 9-8 lead into the halftime break, but a seven-goal third quarter turned the tide in favor of Jacksonville (3-2, 0-0 A-Sun).
Junior midfielder
Eric Rankel paced the Colonials with two goals and four assists. He was one of six RMU players to score two goals on the afternoon, joining
Luke Laszkiewicz,
Jacob Ruest,
Adrian Torok-Orban,
Eric Wales, and
Carter Yepsen.
Tom Moore scored four goals and tallied seven assists for the Dolphins.
The two teams traded the game's first eight goals, but the Colonials would take a 6-4 lead after 15 minutes of play thanks to a transition goal by Rankel at the 13:33 mark, and a falling shot from 15 yards out by Yepsen with four seconds remaining in the frame.
Jacksonville made it a one-goal game two minutes into the second quarter, but RMU would respond with two straight goals to make it 8-5. Ruest wrapped around the crease to gain some separation, firing a shot just under the crossbar after catching a pass from junior midfielder
James Rahe. Rahe set up the next goal as well, finding Wales 12 yards out as the redshirt junior attack found netting on a jumping overhead shot.
The Dolphins battled back by scoring three straight goals to tie it at eight all, but the Colonials regained an advantage with nine seconds left in the half as Rankel found an open Laszkiewicz from behind the cage, freeing the junior attack for his patented right-handed rip.
Rankel dished out his fourth dime of the contest at the 11:35 mark of the third quarter as he set up Torok-Orban for a scoop shot to knot the game at 10. However, that would be the last time it would be tied as Jacksonville rattled off two straight goals to make it 12-10.
Yepsen briefly halted the Dolphin run with a low shot from the right wing to cut it to one, but Jacksonville responded with three straight tallies to carry a 15-11 lead into the fourth quarter.
A loose ball push on the ensuing face-off gave RMU the ball in their offensive half. With the Dolphins defense scrambling, sophomores
Justin Mayfield and
Alexander Bohl connected for the latter's second career goal to make it a three-goal game. The Colonials trimmed the deficit to three again after Ruest scored on the doorstep off a feed from freshman midfielder
Sean Doyle, but Jacksonville added two tallies to seal it.
Freshman goaltender
Chase Rose earned the start and made 12 saves in the loss. Sophomore
Brett Cass started the second half between the pipes, but allowed three goals before Rose returned to the game.
Redshirt junior
Chris Barney won 18 of 35 draws at the dot.
Robert Morris begins its Northeast Conference (NEC) slate next weekend as it travels to the Nutmeg State to play Sacred Heart. Opening face-off between the Colonials and Pioneers is set for 1:00 p.m. from Campus Field.
