Center Valley, PA – Stockton University (7-2) was downed 14-10 by unbeaten DeSales University (9-0) in a game between two teams in the Also Receiving Votes section of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) national poll.
Luc Swedlund (Randolph/Randolph) carried the offense by scoring seven of Stockton's 10 goals.
Eric Ellis (Voorhees/Eastern) chipped in with a goal and two assists. The Ospreys led for less than four minutes in the contest.
DeSales got on the board just eight seconds into the game but
Eric D'Arminio (Roxbury/Roxbury) and Ellis later hit the net 51 seconds apart to give Stockton its only lead of the night at 2-1. The Bulldogs tied the game with 2:35 left in the first quarter and then went ahead 3-2 with only three ticks remaining in the period.
DeSales scored quickly in the second quarter as well, with a tally 50 seconds into the stanza upping the margin to a pair at 4-2. Swedlund's first of the game got the Ospreys within 4-3 but the Bulldogs netted the next marker. Swedlund struck again with one second left in the half to cut the deficit to one again at 5-4.
Two goals by DeSales in a 21-second span of the third quarter put Stockton in a 7-4 hole from which it never recovered.
Erik Anderson (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) and Swedlund sandwiched markers around one by the home team to close the gap to two twice at 7-5 and 8-6 but the Ospreys could get no closer.
Stockton trailed 9-6 after three and was never got the margin under three in a high-scoring fourth quarter. DeSales outscored the Ospreys 5-4 in the final period, with Swedlund netting all four Stockton goals, two of which were assisted by Ellis.
Stockton goalkeeper
Justin Ruiz (Holmdel/Holmdel) made 14 saves as the Ospreys were outshot 46-34.
Kevin Matheny (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) tied for game-high honors with seven ground balls.
Matt Thermann (Spring Lake Heights/Manasquan) won 13 of 20 faceoffs and grabbed five ground balls.
Stockton will play its third straight road game on Saturday when the Ospreys visit the University of Scranton for a match that begins at 1 pm.
