Men fall in first conference match

Coming off close losses to Marist and Delaware, the Lafayette Men’s lacrosse team fell just one goal short of a comeback against Navy on Saturday to open Patriot League play.  Sophomore standout Brian Bock and freshman Kevin Wanke scored four goals each as the Leopards lost 12-11 in Annapolis.

After Navy took a quick 2-0 lead 3 minutes into the game, the Leopards were able to close out the first quarter with goals by Bock and John Floyd ’14.    

With 6:46 remaining in the third quarter, Lafayette saw freshman Brendan Dunlap score his first collegiate goal, with the Leopards entering the fourth quarter down 8-7.  In the fourth quarter, Lafayette was unable to compensate for four Navy goals, which helped carry the Midshipmen to their third victory of the season.

“The team with less mistakes almost always comes out on top,” Bock said. “[Goalkeeper Jake Hyatt ‘14] and the defense do a great job defending settled offenses, but a defense can only stand their ground for so long. The ball needs to spend less time on the defensive side and more in the hands of our offense. Possessions are key.”

Lafayette is now 2-5 on the season and heads into a tough stretch of Patriot League play in their final 6 games.  

Lafayette’s next game is a home match against Bucknell on Saturday night.  The Bison are ranked in the top 25 nationally, and are coming off a strong 17-8 victory over No. 13 Drexel on Tuesday.

Bock emphasized that focusing on getting the smaller, easier details of the gameplan will help the Leopards on Saturday.  

“You take for granted how important the little things like ground balls, clears, and communication are in piecing together a win,” Bock said. “Especially in the Patriot League. A good defense is a good offense. The offense needs to cherish each and every possession and avoid unforced errors. If we can piece together the small things, the bigger things will fall into place.”

Saturday’s game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM from Fisher Field.