Thrilling Comeback Falls Short to Gwynedd Mercy
Riley Litman won 13 faceoffs and collected nine ground balls

Thrilling Comeback Falls Short to Gwynedd Mercy

Men's Lacrosse - 4/2/2016 8:31:00 PM

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Scranton, PA – Marywood University nearly erased a five-goal second half deficit before rival Gwynedd Mercy University pulled ahead 8-6 Saturday in the late stages of Colonial States Athletic Conference men's lacrosse action. Marywood rallied to trim the Griffins' lead to 7-6 with four-straight goals; however, Gwynedd Mercy kept the Pacers scoreless for the final 8:43 of regulation.
 
Ryan Simpson netted a crucial goal with 3:06 remaining to provide the Griffins with an all-important two-goal cushion that helped them stave off the Pacers for the first time since 2013. Gwynedd Mercy ended a four-game slide versus Marywood. The loss ends a three-game winning streak for Marywood.
 
Matt Casto finished with two goals and an assist for three points. Cody Bachman steered the Pacers with a goal and an assist to move within 11 of the 100 Point Club.
 
Scott Slater added a score to come just two short of the 100 Goal Club.
 
Riley Litman was impeccable at the x by winning 13 of 17 (76 percent) faceoffs with a season-best nine ground balls.
 
Gwynedd Mercy's Tony McCraw drew up two goals and two assists for four points. Simpson and Jacob Snavely each tallied two goals.
 
The Griffins' Nick Harkins caused four turnovers. Marc Bushong racked eight ground balls.
 
The Pacers' offense sputtered in the first half to the tune of one goal. They were held scoreless in the first period with Gwynedd Mercy accruing a three-goal lead on a pair of McCraw netters. Tommy Belmont extended the Griffins' lead to four at the 11:10 mark of the second quarter.
 
Bachman responded 35 seconds later with an unassisted goal. McCraw fed Snavely five minutes later to set the score at 5-1 heading into the break.
 
Marywood looked in dire shape for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Alfonso Manzo and Snavely sandwiched Slater's goal to form the Griffins' largest lead (7-2) of the game with 5:55 left in the third. Casto steered the momentum back in the home team's direction with a pair of goals to close out the period via Bachman and Pickeral.
 
Austin Maylor cut the deficit to two with an unassisted goal at the 10:11 mark of the fourth. Little time was wasted before Stephen Deiner hustled downfield to put the Pacers to within one with 8:43 left. Simpson iced the Pacers with an excellent goal, backing his way against a defender and dumping it into the net with 3:06 left.  Gwynedd Mercy kept possession for nearly the entire rest of the way.
 
Gwynedd Mercy had a 34-28 advantage in shots. Both teams finished with 30 ground balls. Marywood kept the Griffins scoreless on six man-up chances. With both teams having 17 clear chances, Gwynedd Mercy had a 15-11 advantage.
 
Marywood looks to get back into the win column Wednesday at Rosemont College. 
 
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