CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley men's lacrosse team had five different goal scorers in a tough 12-8 defeat at DeSales University on Wednesday evening in the first conference game of the year.
 
LVC (7-3, 0-1 MAC Freedom) battled back from an early deficit, but four goals in the final seven minutes were the difference for DeSales (4-7, 1-0 MAC Freedom) in a back-and-forth affair. The Bulldogs scored on the first offensive possession of the game. Rowan Myers put a shot high, and then Hayden Carling had a shot blocked. Dylan Rinyak hit the post a couple of minutes later. DSU countered with a goal following two missed shots wide to go up by two, a little over five minutes into the game. Connor Rowe won the next faceoff, and following a pair of saved shots, Ryan Grace put one into the back of the net to cut the deficit in half. Rowe won another faceoff, picking up the ground ball, and 20 seconds later, Sean Poole fired a shot into the back of the crease to even the score at two.
 
DeSales retook the lead two minutes later after the Dutchmen's defense had blocked a shot. The Bulldogs were able to capitalize on the first penalty of the game, as they scored a man-up goal to push the advantage to 4-2 with 3:46 remaining. They kept the offensive pressure on the LVC defense with the Dutchmen blocking a pair of shots before a goal with 2:14 left in the quarter pushed the lead to 5-2. Rinyak put a shot on goal with a minute left in the period, which was saved by the DSU goalie. The Bulldogs called a timeout with 12 seconds left in the quarter to set up a final play, but LVC held them without a shot.
 
The Dutchmen started the second quarter strong as Myers scored a little over two minutes in to cut the deficit down to two. Grace had a shot saved a minute later. The Dutchmen made it a one-goal game with 9:16 on the clock as Poole scored off a pass by Brayden Brown. LVC won the following faceoff, and Rinyak put two shots off target. The teams traded turnovers until Montgomery Sensenig cleared a ball from the defensive end and fired a goal into the net that tied the score at five with 3:51 remaining in the half.  DSU responded with a shot that hit the post, and then a shot that was saved by Kellen Markley. At the other end of the field. Wyatt Shamer nearly scored, but his shot was saved. The Bulldogs were able to take a 6-5 halftime lead after a goal with 30 seconds left. LVC had a chance to even the score right before half, but a Carling shot was kept out of the cage.
 
The Bulldogs took the first shot of the second half with Markley coming up with a big save. Makosy put a shot high after a good clear. The teams traded turnovers over the next few minutes until DSU scored to make it 7-5 with 10:48 on the clock. Ish Bolorin won the next faceoff, and Shamer had his shot attempt saved. A couple of minutes later, Sheadan Makosy had a shot saved following a good clear attempt. Ethan Keenan put a shot high, and Poole had a shot saved. The Bulldogs were able to take advantage of a turnover on a clear attempt with a goal to make it a three-goal lead. DeSales hit the post on a shot, while Sensenig had another shot saved after a good clear. Rinyak and Carling had shots saved before Carling scored with 13 seconds left in the quarter to cut the lead to 8-6. Myers had the assist on the goal.
 
LVC came out strong to begin the fourth quarter as they took quick advantage of an early penalty. Rinyak connected with Grace for the sophomore's second goal 27 seconds into the quarter to make it 8-7. Markley made three big saves over the next few minutes as the Bulldogs put pressure on LVC's defense. Makosy hit the post on a shot following a clear before Carling had a shot saved. The Dutchmen were able to tie the score with 7:50 left as Connor Sample found Grace open on the right side, and the attack buried a shot to complete his hat trick. The Bulldogs called a timeout and responded with two goals to retake the lead at 10-8 with 5:44 to play. DeSales was able to control possession over the final five minutes and added two more goals to set the final.
 
Inside the Box

• Grace led the Dutchmen with three goals on six shots. The sophomore recorded his seventh hat trick of the year and his second consecutive game with three goals.
• Poole scored twice on three shots with one ground ball. The junior extended his point streak to nine games while recording his sixth multi-goal game of the season.
• Myers had a goal and an assist for two points. The junior took four shots while posting his sixth multi-point game of the year.
• Sensenig and Carling scored a goal each. Sensenig scored for the second consecutive game, while Carling has recorded at least one point in every game. Carling recorded his 75th career point.
• Sample, Brown, and Rinyak all had an assist each. Sample and Nick Gleason led the team with three caused turnovers apiece.
• Markley made 11 saves and had two ground balls. Rowe won seven faceoffs and picked up a team-high four ground balls.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will look to rebound on Saturday as they host Neumann University at Arnold Field in the final non-conference game of the season. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. against the Knights.

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