Box Score

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Carrying a two-goal lead into the final period, the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team could not quite hold onto its advantage as Frostburg State came storming back and scored four in the fourth to edge CNU, 7-6, on a cloudy Sunday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.

On Senior Day, Jake Myers scored a goal and Kyla Pasta added an assist to lead the veteran contingent. Andy McGregor also made nine saves for the Captains, while Brad Picciolo and Zakary Burkhard each caused turnovers.

The setback drops Christopher Newport to 4-4 on the season, while Frostburg State improves to 5-2. The game marked the first match-up between the two programs, who will become Capital Athletic Conference rivals in 2014.

After entering halftime tied at 3-3, the Captains were the aggressors early in the second half. Following an early Frostburg State turnover, Parker Thompson fired a dagger to the back of the net just 53 seconds into the third. After a defensive struggle, which featured a pair of saves by McGregor, Myers gave the hosts a two-goal cushion with his second score of the season at 7:56.

Leading 5-3, CNU turned to its defense, which closed out the third in style. Adam Abbate and Brenden Dwyer each caused turnovers, while McGregor stopped another tracer to keep the lead heading into the fateful fourth frame.

Although Abbate got the Captains off on the right foot, scoring off a bullet just 18 seconds into the period, Frostburg State responded with a vengeance. The visitors converted off a man-up opportunity at 12:58 to get back within two before Ryan Serio and Chris Rios teamed up for another goal a mere minute later to pull FSU within one at 6-5.

With the momentum firmly planted on the Bobcat sideline, the visitors took advantage. Billy Lark was nearly unstoppable at faceoffs, winning five of the six battles in the final period. Eventually, his efforts paid dividends as Rios evened the score at six and quickly broke the deadlock with his second goal shortly thereafter to give Frostburg State a 7-6 edge with four minutes remaining.

Battling both the Bobcats and the clock, CNU had its best opportunity with just over three minutes left in regulation after a pair of FSU penalties gave the Captains a two-man advantage. Unfortunately, the hosts could only get off a pair of shots in the 30-second window and both missed the mark as the Frostburg State defense held tough.

With little time left, the Captains were able to muster one last run in the final minute of play, but Rios forced a turnover and eventually ran out the clock to seal the one-goal victory.

During the game, FSU held a 30-22 edge in shots, a 40-30 lead in ground balls, and an impressive 13-4 advantage in faceoffs. Tyler Haines finished with a game-high 10 saves for the Bobcats, while McGregor had nine for CNU.

Early in the game, Spenser Love scored two quick goals for Frostburg State before Christopher Newport came storming back. Burkhard set the tone for the comeback, laying a devastating knockout on a Bobcat near midfield, which freed up the ball and gave the Captains their first scoring opportunity. Wasting little time, Gregory Limon dished to Alex Barber, who blistered a rope through the FSU defense to pull the squad within one at 2-1.

With time running down in the first, Joey Rolando evened the score at two. After rolling in from the nearside of the field, the freshman standout sniped a laser into the back of the net with 26 seconds remaining in the period to knot the game.

Holding onto the momentum after their late run in the first, the Captains kept things going early in the second. At the 12-minute mark, Pasta fed a gorgeous pass to John Thompson, who unloaded a one-timer past the FSU goalie. Unfortunately, the visitors answered less than two minutes later to knot the game at three heading into the second half.

Eventually, Rios led the visitors' comeback after halftime, tallying three points. Devin Colegrove also added a goal and an assist for Frostburg State during their second-half surge.

Christopher Newport will return to action tomorrow when the squad wraps up its home slate with a 4 p.m. battle against Whittier at Captains Turf Field.

---CNU---