SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Susquehanna University men's lacrosse team took on their second Centennial Conference opponent Saturday afternoon, facing Muhlenberg College in front of the home crowd at Sassafras Multipurpose Field. Susquehanna (0-5) kept pace with Muhlenberg (3-0) but came up short in a 16-10 loss as the Mules won the fourth quarter, 3-0.
 
Susquehanna 10, Muhlenberg 16
 
How It Happened

• The River Hawks netted the first three goals of the game as senior captain Jack Harper (Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview) had a goal and an assist in the 3-0 run.
• Muhlenberg replied with three straight goals of its own to head into the second quarter tied with the hosts, 3-3.
• The Mules opened up the second frame with a goal before attackmen Preston Ouellette (Trumbull, Conn./St. Joseph) and Sean Carothers (Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII) gave Susquehanna a 5-4 lead at 9:50.
• The visitors scored twice before Ouellette knotted the game once again at 6-6 with 6:02 remaining in the first half.
• Muhlenberg ended the half with two in a row to claim an 8-6 advantage at halftime.
• Nine goals were scored in the third period with the Mules edging SU, 5-4, as Jack Kraemer scored twice. Sophomore defenseman Cole Palmer (Dover, Del./Dover) highlighted the quarter for Susquehanna with his top left corner goal from the midfield line as time expired to close the gap to 13-10.
• Muhlenberg edged the River Hawks, 4-1, in shots on goal, scoring three times on those four shots for a 16-10 lead at 2:02.
• Susquehanna turned the ball over eight times and lost all four face-offs while being outhustled, 14-9, on ground balls in the fourth.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Shots – SU 28, Muhlenberg 55
• Saves – SU 16, Muhlenberg 8
• Turnovers – SU 21, Muhlenberg 21
• Clears – SU 17-24, Muhlenberg 19-20
• Ground Balls – SU 29, Muhlenberg 43
• Face-offs – SU 7-28, Muhlenberg 21-28
• Extra Man Opportunities – SU 3-6, Muhlenberg 2-6

 
Top Performers

• Harper paced the River Hawks in their fifth straight loss with career-bests of three goals, two assists and five points while Ouellette contributed two goals.
• Senior attackman Michael Hatala (Glen Cove, N.Y./Glen Cove) and first-year midfielder Jake Turner (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) each chipped in two points on a goal and an assist.
• Along with a goal, Carothers led the team with five ground balls, while seniors Joe Acquaviva (Wyckoff, N.J./Don Bosco) and Patrick Donnelly (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) each caused two turnovers.
• Senior Josh Weaver (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) made nine saves in the first half before junior captain Tyler Gross (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) came in and turned away seven shots over the final 30 minutes.
• Kraemer finished the game with a game-high five goals while Matt Burke won 21-of-28 face-offs with a game-best 14 ground balls to keep the Mules undefeated.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Mar. 4 at Lebanon Valley (1-2) – Annville, Pa. / Arnold Field – 4:00 p.m.

 
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