BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College men's lacrosse team (0-3) mounted a fourth-quarter comeback, cutting the Husson University Eagles (3-5) lead to three goals with under eight minutes left to play. Husson rallied off five-consecutive goals to thwart the Tornado comeback attempt, pulling away for a 16-8 victory on Friday afternoon at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
Atticus Cooper scored a career-high two goals with an assist for a team-high three points, while Andrew McDonald and Trystan Wallace also scored twice each. Finnegan McCormack and Nate Stone each had a goal, while Brice Peterson dished out the first two assists of his Tornado career. Evan Francois and Will Scoggins each had an assist, while McCormack hauled in a team-high eight ground balls and won 11 faceoffs. BC's Evan Johnson and Scott Bundy caused a team-high three turnovers each, as Devin McCarragher (0-3) made nine saves for the Tornados.
The Eagles were led by Jaden Wells and Gunner McAlister, who had five and four goals, respectively. Roman Dennis grabbed seven ground balls and won five faceoffs, and Bryan Wagg (3-5) tallied 13 saves.
Husson outshot Brevard, 53-35, but the Tornados held the ground ball advantage, 46-43. Husson won 16 faceoffs to BC's 12 and went 20-for-24 on clear attempts. Brevard's defense was able to force 25 Eagle turnovers.
The Eagles opened the scoring up quickly, with a goal six seconds into the contest to take the early lead, 1-0. The Tornados were able to answer back quickly, as McCormack ripped a shot that went in at the 12:23 mark to tie things up at 1-1.
Husson answered back with six consecutive goals, four of which came in the first period, making it a 7-1 affair at the 5:34 mark in the second quarter. Cooper put in his first goal of the afternoon on Francois' assist, cutting the deficit to five goals, 7-2, at the end of the first half.
McDonald opened the third period with a goal off Scoggins' assist, trimming the Eagle lead to four goals, 7-3, with 10:49 left in the third period. Husson answered back with a score at the 6:11 mark before Cooper's second score of the afternoon made it an 8-4 contest. Husson scored twice, sandwiching McDonald's second score of the day, as the Eagles carried a 10-5 advantage into the contest's final stanza.
After an early Eagle goal made it a six-goal deficit, the Tornados went on a three-goal run to cut the lead to an 11-8 margin with 7:47 left to play. Wallace scored his first of back-to-back goals immediately following a successful clear attempt on Peterson's assist. Wallace then took a pass from Cooper on Brevard's next possession, making it a four-score game with 9:32 left to play. The Tornados capped off their scoring stretch as Stone found an opening and connected for his second goal of the season, making it an 11-8 affair.
Husson was able to seal the deal with a five-goal run that put the contest out of reach and wrapped up the eight-goal win for the Eagles, who are in the midst of a seven-game southern road trip before heading back to Bangor, Maine.
The Tornados return to action on Sunday when Brevard hosts Concordia Wisconsin at 1 p.m. at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
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-BC-