The Morrisville State College men’s lacrosse team opened the 2013 season campaign Tuesday night, dropping a 16-6 non-conference decision to host Whittier College in Whittier, California.
Louie Geswaldo (Lafayette, N.Y.) netted two in his collegiate debut to lead the Mustangs, while teammates AJ Donoghue (Rochester, N.Y.), David Middlemore (Baldwinsville, N.Y.), Casey Jean (Tully, N.Y.) and Tim Freier (Geneva, N.Y.) each tallied one.
Freshman keeper, Chris Fiore (Staten Island, N.Y.) posted the loss between the pipes, registering 20 saves, including eight in the opening frame.
Whittier posted the first tally of the night before the Mustangs rallied for two straight scores within a minute’s time, to claim the 2-1 lead after the first quarter. Jean posted the first goal of the season at the 6:54 mark, on an assist from Richie Fischer (Rochester, N.Y.), before Geswaldo collected a rebound and put the Mustangs ahead with the unassisted tally at 5:52.
The Poets rallied for two straight in the top of the second to reclaim the one goal advantage, but Morrisville State turned the tables and outplayed Whittier for the remainder of the quarter, while netting three consecutive scores to hold the 5-4 lead at the half.
Freier gave the Mustangs the two goal advantage early on in the third, but Whittier’s offensive game came alive and went on a 12-0 scoring frenzy to hand Morrisville State the 16-6 loss.
The Mustangs play an exhibition match against the Beverly Hills Club on Thursday.