SELINSGROVE, PA - Some Saturday-afternoon non-conference men's lacrosse action between familiar foes Susquehanna and Haverford offered an exciting matchup for those watching. The River Hawks, off to their first 5-0 start since 2015, looked to keep their early streak going against the 4-1 Fords, both possessing serious offensive firepower. The two teams waged significant scoring runs, though it was Haverford's five-goal fourth quarter that was enough to hold off a late Susquehanna threat for a 12-11 victory. 

Senior Jack Gaillard used the occasion to become the second River Hawk ever to amass 200 career points after his seven points on two goals and five assists propelled him to 205 lifetime, joining teammate and fellow senior Brennan Lorence, now with 210 after scoring one goal on Saturday. With fellow seniors Chris Ciccarello's two goals and two assists and Kieran Thomas' three goals and one assist to help with the scoring, Susquehanna had to contend with Haverford's finest in Philip Passalaqua and Tyler Vendetti, both with four points as Passalaqua scored three goals and Vendetti two. 

Early on it looked as though the Fords were in command as nearly two minutes in Ronan West got the guests on the board, as well as Haverford winning the opening faceoffs. Just over seven minutes passed before the next goal was scored, with Susquehanna firing off four unanswered goals in the last five minutes and change of the first quarter. The first was a Gaillard unassisted score with 5:47 left in the frame before Gaillard made it 200 points for his career when he passed it to the opportunistic Ciccarello to take a 2-1 lead with 2:54 left. Ciccarello then repaid the favor, finding Thomas who buried it in 37 seconds later, followed by another Gaillard goal in the waning seconds of the first to lead 4-1 after one. Haverford seized the momentum to start the second, reeling off six straight goals while shutting out the River Hawks in the period to lead 7-4 at the half. Vendetti earned one goal and two assists in this stretch and Passalaqua one goal and one assist. 

The third quarter proved that Saturday's outing was a game of rallies as Susquehanna found new life, shutting out the Fords in the third quarter and putting up four scores to take an 8-7 lead into the fourth. Lorence got on the board thanks to a feed from Pat McDermott, while Gaillard padded his stat sheet assisting the next three goals to Reese Ackerman, Nick Remund, and Gabe Broome, respectively. The game of rallies ensued as Haverford opened the final period with five unanswered goals to put Susquehanna on its heels. Vendetti and Passalaqua opened the period with one goal apiece, then D'Andre Chaney scoring from Evan Wolpert. Chaney played a role in the next two goals, first feeding Passalaqua then scoring again from a pass from Jonathan Moon as a 12-8 score flashed on the scoreboard with 6:23 to play. From there Susquehanna managed to get its grip back on the game, beginning by winning the faceoff and Thomas netting another goal from Gaillard. The River Hawks then seized on a Haverford turnover as Ciccarello was on-point with his next goal from Thomas to make with 12-10 with 3:46 left. It took then 18 seconds to make it a one-goal game as they again won the faceoff with Marshall Woodrosky fetching the ground ball, eventually landing in the stick of Ciccarello who reciprocated Thomas' hookup by giving it to #33 to score and make it 12-11 with 3:28. Susquehanna, however was unable to win the ensuing faceoff as they tried to wrestle the ball away from Haverford as a series of SU penalties ensued to put a halt on the comeback.

Goalies Augie Granatelli for Susquehanna and Jacob Abraham for Haverford had their work cut out for them, yet performed brilliantly as Haverford led 56-42 in shots and 30-28 in shots on goal. Abraham got the win by tallying 17 saves, while Granatelli logged 18. The Fords won 17 faceoffs to the River Hawks' ten, though Susquehanna's defense held Haverford during six of their man-up opportunities. Susquehanna cleared on all 17 of their attempts, while the Fords cleared 16-of-19 times. The River Hawks caused nine of Haverford's 13 turnovers, led by two from Gaillard. 

Susquehanna looks to shake off the defeat with their trademark resolve as they hit the road for three games. They head to Lebanon Valley on Wednesday at 4 p.m., followed by Saint Vincent Saturday, Mar. 15 and Drew in their Landmark Conference opener Saturday, Mar. 22.