Mavericks Defeat Men's Lacrosse in Third Straight ECC Championship Game

DOBBS FERRY, NY – The Frostburg State Men's Lacrosse team fell in the ECC Championship game to top seed Mercy on Saturday afternoon by a score of 18-5.

The Mavericks swiftly won the opening faceoff and within seven-seconds charged down the field for the first goal of the game. Moments later, Mercy won the next faceoff, but a save by FSU junior goalkeeper Nate Jones put the Bobcats on a clear attempt. An FSU turnover resulted in MU with possession and a 2-0 edge. FSU was able to compile seven shots but Mercy put up two more goals in the first quarter to take a 4-0 advantage going into the second.

Junior Alex Walstrum won the opening faceoff and ground ball, which got the offense started for the Bobcats, where graduate Owen McCallum put FSU's first goal in the back of the net at 4-1. Mercy was awarded the ball after a faceoff violation by Frostburg, with a successful clear attempt giving MU their fifth goal. Junior Gregg Dort Jr was then given control of the ball after Mercy was called for a violation, allowing graduate Bubba Love's to pass to senior Austin Sipes for the assist to graduate Chase Buckwalter for FSU goal number two. Mercy put up four more goals unanswered, pulling ahead 9-2. A groundball by junior Landon Bruce earned him an assist on senior Nick Agresta's first goal of the year for a 9-3 halftime score.

In the first seven seconds, Mercy scored another to gain a seven-goal lead. Roughly six minutes followed of scoreless play, until Jones scooped up a ground ball, giving FSU an offensive possession. Freshman Luke Roach fed Sipes to cut MU's advantage to six, but the Mavericks put up four more to end the third leading 14-4.

Two minutes into the fourth, junior Seamus Kearney scooped up the ball, creating a successful clear attempt for the Bobcats. Graduate Justin Hulse aided McCallum in FSU's fifth and final goal of the competition as the score stood at 14-5. FSU continued to fight and earn shots, but Mercy put four more away to win the Championship by an 18-5 final.

McCallum led with two goals, followed by Buckwalter, Sipes and Agresta each with one. Bruce, Sipes, Roach and Hulse each had an assist, while Jones finished with twelve saves.

With the conclusion of today's game, Frostburg ends with an overall record of 13-4, while Mercy improves to 14-1. Each team now awaits to see if and where their name is called during the NCAA selection show.