Brookville, N.Y. - Only trailing by one at the half, the Adelphi University men's lacrosse team was unable to get over the hump in the second two quarters, and eventually dropping a 9-8 decision in the season opener to LIU Post on Saturday afternoon.
The teams were relatively even throughout the contest, even only registering one goal apiece in the third quarter and holding each other scoreless in the final frame of the Long Island rivalry.
Adelphi (0-1) took over 10 shots more than the home team and won a handful more face-offs than the Pioneers (2-0), but were still unable to squeak out a win.
Leading the way for the Panthers was
Dylan Crossan, who finished the game with four points courtesy of two goals and two assists.
Ian Kirby and
John Arcidiacono were also responsible for two goals apiece as two others each chipped in a solo goal. In the cage for Adelphi, 2017 USILA Goalkeeper of the Year
Brendan McDougal allowed nine goals but also saved the same amount in 60 minutes.
Four different players for LIU each accounted for two goals and Bryan Ochs put up a career-high 14 saves for the win.
The Panthers and Pioneers traded goals in the opening quarter with the latter taking the lead after the first 15 minutes, although a Crossan goal put Adelphi down by just one.
Nicolas Racalbuto, leading goal scorer last season netted an equalizer at 3:59, but the hosts put up two in the remaining time to take the lead. LIU started the second off with two unanswered tallies and ran up the score, doubling Adelphi's at 8-4 but the Panthers came storming back down the stretch. Crossan and Arcidiacono each added another goal and
Michael Osmundsen brought the team within one with 50 seconds to play in the first half.
One goal for each team in the third still saw Adelphi trailing by one, despite nine shots in the remaining seven minutes for the Brown and Gold. Ochs managed five saves in the final quarter to the Panther's seven shots, with all but two landing on goal to keep the visitors at bay. McDougal and the defense did their part, halting all offensive marches by the hosts forcing five turnovers, three of which were caused by Kirby,
Alex Schlosser, and
Jack Thomann.
The team will return to action on Saturday, March 3 when it opens up conference play at league opponent American International College. Opening faceoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009, and in the past eight seasons, has collected 25 regular season conference titles, 26 tournament championships, 33 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.
For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.
