Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Men's Lacrosse team hosted Tusculum University today in regional play. The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead, but the Lions battled back to take a 10-7 lead into halftime. Tusculum took the lead to end the third period, but the teams traded points the rest of the way, with the Pioneers edging the Lions 18-17. With the loss, the Lions fall to 0-3 on the early season. 

The Pioneers found the net to start things off taking an early 2-0 lead. The Lions responded well with a goal by Cole Stachniak to make it 2-1, Pioneers with 8:48 to play in the first. Erik Lichtner found the net a mere five seconds later, assisted by Ryland Laturell to tie things up at 2-2. Ryley Dowswell was next to score for the Lions with 6:35 to play in the period, assisted by Everett Muratori to give the Lions the 3-2 lead. Ryland Laturell made it 4-2 with 3:47 on the clock but the Pioneers answered to score two in a row to tie the game at 4-4. Ryley Dowswell closed out the period with a score to make it 5-4, Lions heading into the 2^nd period. 

The Lions kept their momentum going in the 2^nd. Devin Gardner scored first to make it 6-4, Lions with 13:04 to play in the period. Laturell scored his second of the game with 11:30 to play, assisted by Muratori to make it 7-4, Lions. Tusculum scored the next two to cut the Lions lead to 7-6, but Stachniak answered with 5:33 to play in the 2^nd to push the Lions lead to 8-6. A goal for Tusculum made it 8-7, but Ryley Dowswell scored back-to-back goals, assisted by Lichtner and Tristen Cuda to push the Lions lead to 10-7 to end half. 

The Pioneers scored early in the 3^rd to cut the Lions lead to 10-9, but Lichtner and Grant Anderson both scored to make it 12-9, Lions. The Pioneers got hot late in the period, scoring the final four goals to take the lead, 13-12 heading into the fourth period. 

Tusculum stayed on the offensive end to start the fourth period, going on a 3-0 scoring run to make it 16-12. The Lions roared back, with Laturell finding the net with 12:30 to play, assisted by Gardner to make it 16-13. Braden Weeks was next to find the net with 9:17 to play, assisted by Gardner to make it 16-14, Tusculum. Dowswell scored the next two, one assisted by Muratori, to tie the game at 16-16 with 6:22 to play. Tusculum answered to score twice, making the score 18-16, but Laturell found the net late, assisted by Dowswell to make the final score 18-17.  

Ryley Dowswell led the Lions with 6 goals, with Ryland Laturell adding 4. Everett Muratori led the team in assists with 3, with Devin Gardner adding 2. Grady Magruder ended the night with 20 saves in goal. 

Next up, the Lions will travel to Hartsville, SC to face Coker on Thursday at 6PM. 

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.