ANNVILLE, Pa. – Trey Ralston and Jake Bollinger each had four points for the Lebanon Valley Men's Lacrosse team in a hard-fought 15-8 defeat to Misericordia University on Wednesday afternoon at Arnold Field in Annville.
 
The Dutchmen (7-7, 2-2 MAC Freedom) got on the scoreboard first as Hayden Carling found Ralston streaking towards the crease for his 26th goal of the season with 12:42 on the clock. The Cougars (7-7, 3-2 MAC Freedom) evened the score up a couple minutes later. Misericordia took the lead after the Dutchmen were able to successfully defend an extra-man opportunity with 9:17 left in the quarter. Neither team was able to score again until the Cougars increased the lead to 3-1 with just over four minutes to play in the opening quarter. The Dutchmen had an opportunity to score late in the quarter but a pair of shots by John Lux and Bollinger went wide.
 
Misericordia added to the advantage with a goal on the first possession of the second quarter. The Dutchmen offense built up momentum as Ethan Keenan hit the post and the Lux had a shot saved. Carling was able to cut the lead to two with his ninth goal of the year off an assist by Bollinger with just under 12 to play. A minute later, LVC took advantage of a penalty as Keenan scored a man-up goal 27 seconds into the advantage off another assist by Ralston. The Cougars answered with a man-up goal of their own to go up 5-3 with 8:24 remaining in the half. Bollinger was able to get the deficit back to one on his first goal of the game with 2:30 on the clock. Misericordia ended the half strong with three goals to take an 8-4 advantage.
 
The Dutchmen came out of the break strong as Sean Poole scored his ninth goal of the year off an assist from Carling on the first possession of the half. The Cougars were called for a penalty on the play and LVC took quick advantage as Bollinger scored 19 seconds into the opportunity to cut the deficit to 8-6 with less than a minute gone in the quarter. The Cougars did not allow another goal the rest of the quarter and slowly built the lead up to seven with five unanswered goals over the remainder of the quarter. Nick Gleason, Bollinger, and Jack Capone had shots saved for the Dutchmen, but the Cougars were able to win faceoffs to control possession for a good portion of the quarter.
 
The Cougars started off the fourth quarter with a goal in the first minute of play. Bollinger completed his hat trick with a man-up goal off a pass from Ralston to bring the score to 14-7. Misericordia answered right back with a goal. The Dutchmen scored another man-up goal as Kennan found the back of the net with seven minutes to go off an assist by Ralston. That was the final goal of the game as neither team was able to score in the last seven minutes of action.
 
Inside the Box

• Bollinger recorded his seventh hat trick of the season with three goals and one assist. He has scored at least two goals in each of the past five games.
• Ralston added four points on one goal and three assists. The senior dished out three assists for the third time this year.
• Carling finished with three points on one goal and two assists. Carling has now recorded at least one point in all but two games this year and has six multi-point games.
• Keenan scored two goals for his seventh multi-goal game of the season.
• Poole scored his 20th career goal on three shots.
• Zach Wanous led the defense with three caused turnovers and five ground balls.
• The Dutchmen had a 42-37 shot advantage in the game and were a perfect 4-for-4 on extra-man opportunities.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will be back on Arnold Field this Saturday for Senior Day in another important conference game against DeSales University. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m. with Senior Day festivities to occur prior to pre-game announcements.

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