FAIRFIELD, CT ? The University of Hartford lacrosse team dropped an 11-10 decision at Sacred Heart University on Saturday afternoon.
Hartford (0-4 overall) led by as many as six early in the second half but couldn't hold onto the lead. Sacred Heart (3-0 overall) scored eight straight goals in the second half to take the advantage and held off a late charge by the Hawks to secure the victory.
Sacred Heart's Timmy Katz led all scorers with six goals, including five in the second half. Freshman Michael Cudmore scored two goals and added an assist while junior Jacob Eustice chipped in three assists to lead the Hawks. Seniors Tom Harris and Brian Tilley and sophomore Leif Abrahamson also scored a pair of goals each for Hartford.
The Hawks controlled the first quarter and jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Five different Hartford players scored in the frame, including a pair of man-up tallies by Tilley and Harris.
Dan Casciano got Sacred Heart on the scoreboard to start the second quarter, but the Hawks didn't back down and matched the Pioneers goal for goal in the stanza to take an 8-3 lead into the locker room at the half.
Harris gave Hartford its largest lead just minutes into the second half with his second goal of the day. The Hawks led 9-3 and seemed to be in control when Katz put the Pioneers on his shoulders, scoring five times over the final 24 minutes. He tied the game at 9-9 with 34 seconds to play in the third quarter, and Sacred Heart took the lead for good on Bobby Rushton's score in the opening minutes of the final frame.
Katz's final goal proved to be the game winner, but with 3:40 remaining in the contest it gave the Pioneers an 11-9 lead. Sophomore Justin Bearse then found Tilley for a score with 1:43 to play, and Hartford pushed hard in the final moments to tie the game. The Hawks attempted two shots but saw one go wide and the other saved by Sacred Heart goalie Zack Frank.
Both Frank and Hartford junior Jon McMahon made 16 saves in the game. Sacred Heart held a 49-45 edge in shots while Hartford owned a 35-30 margin in ground balls. The Hawks also went 4-for-7 on extra-man opportunities while the Pioneers scored twice in eight attempts.
Hartford will next host Harvard on Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30 p.m.
