SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Attackmen Michael Hatala (Glen Cove, N.Y./Glen Cove) and Sean Carothers (Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXII) led the Susquehanna University men's lacrosse team as they each scored three goals on five shots Saturday afternoon. Susquehanna (0-3) suffered a nail-biting 10-9 non-conference loss to King's (Pa.) College (1-0).
 
The River Hawks came out strong in the first half, using an efficient offense of five goals on 12 shots to boast a 5-4 halftime lead. SU continues to show improvement on the field as the season progresses.
 
Susquehanna 9, King's 10
 
How It Happened

• King's led off with the first goal of the game less than a minute in as Gabe Vansuch scored the first of his hat trick.
• SU responded two minutes later to tie the game up at 12:17 behind a goal from senior captain Jack Harper (Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview).
• The two sides continued to alternate scores until back-to-back goals by first-year midfielder Jake Turner (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) and Carothers gave Susquehanna a 5-4 advantage at halftime.

 

• In the second half, the River Hawks jumped ahead, 6-4, on a goal by Hatala off an assist by Harper at 8:34, before Alec Martin and Nolan Reape knotted the game once more less than four minutes later.
• SU reclaimed a two-goal lead again before the end of the third as Carothers found the back of the net with two seconds left off an assist by senior attackman Preston Ouellette (Trumbull, Conn./St. Joseph).
• At the start of the fourth period, Hatala struck again to put Susquehanna in front by three, 9-6.
• King's responded with four unanswered goals, including the game-tying goal from Martin's stick at 3:12 and the game-winning goal by Vansuch with 54 seconds remaining in regulation.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Shots – SU 30, King's 34
• Saves – SU 14, King's 13
• Turnovers – SU 20, King's 20
• Clears – SU 17-20, King's 17-26
• Ground Balls – SU 30, King's 35
• Face-offs – SU 15, King's 7
• Extra Man Opportunities – SU 0-4, King's 1-4

 
Top Performers

• Hatala led the offense with a career-best three goals and season-high four points while Carothers recorded his first career hat trick.
• Harper contributed career-bests of two assists and three points for the second straight game.
• Junior Ryan Bucher (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) finished the day, 11-for-12, in face-offs with a game-best eight ground balls as SU claimed 15 out of 22 face-off wins.
• Senior captain Jacob Fox (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield) continued to command the defense for the River Hawks with four ground balls and four caused turnovers.
• Junior captain Tyler Gross (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) kept SU in the game with a career-best 14 saves against 10 goals allowed in his first career start.
• King's had five different scorers as Martin finished with game-highs of four goals, two assists and six points to lead in the Monarchs' season-opening win.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Feb. 26 vs. No. 14/15 Franklin & Marshall (0-1) – Selinsgrove, Pa. / Sassafras Multipurpose Field – 4:00 p.m.

 
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