LANCASTER, Pa. – Jake Bollinger scored three goals to lead four multi-goal scorers for the Lebanon Valley men's lacrosse team in the season opener at Franklin & Marshall College. The host Diplomats used a big third quarter to defeat the Dutchmen 20-10.
 
The Dutchmen put up a strong battle against a very good Franklin & Marshall program. F&M scored the first goal of the game a little over a minute into the contest. LVC responded with a goal by Bollinger off an assist from Rowan Myers. The Diplots scored a pair of unassisted goals before Bollinger struck again off an assist by Hayden Carling to cut the lead to one goal. The Dutchmen defense held the Diplomats off the scoreboard for the final 9:54 of the quarter following a timeout after the third goal.
 
The Diplomats scored first in the second quarter with 11:27 to go to take a 4-2 lead. LVC responded two minutes later as John Lux scored his first goal as a Dutchman. F&M scored twice in the next 90 seconds to go up by three. LVC fought back as Alex Kiviniemi scored his first goal of the year off an assist from Lux and then Lux found the back of the net with 35 seconds left to cut the lead to 6-5.
 
Kiviniemi tied the game up a minute into the third quarter as he picked up a rebound and buried a shot into the back of the net. The Diplomats responded with the nine goals over a 13-minute span to take a 15-6 lead. Rowan Myers stopped the run with his first goal of the year with just under a minute to play.
 
Franklin & Marshall scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter before Myers scored a man-up goal off an assist from Lux with 11:27 on the clock. The Diplomats scored the next two goals and then Sheadan Makosy scored his first career goal to bring the deficit to 19-9 with seven minutes left. The Diplomats responded with an unassisted goal before Bollinger finished off his hat trick with a man-up goal off an assist from Colin Hughes.
 
Inside the Box

• Bollinger recorded the 19th hat trick of his career with three goals on four shots. The senior also picked up six groundballs.
• Lux led the Dutchmen with four points on two goals and two assists. The graduate transfer took six shots in his first game as a Dutchman.
• Myers had three points on two goals and an assist. Kiviniemi also scored twice and led the team with seven shots putting five on goal.
• Owen Cummins led the defensive effort with two caused turnovers and five groundballs.
• Kellen Markley made 10 saves in goal before William Ward came in and stopped six shots over the final 16 minutes.
• LVC was 2-5 on extra-man opportunities and was 2-4 when playing a man-down.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back in action on Wednesday with a trip to Moravian University. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Bethlehem against the Greyhounds.

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