Moccasins Fall on the Road at Belmont Abbey

BELMONT, N.C. - The offense struggled to get going for the Florida Southern College men's lacrosse team Saturday afternoon as the host Belmont Abbey College Crusaders captured a 10-6 victory over the Moccasins. Florida Southern never led in the match but trailed by just two at the half.
 
The loss drops FSC's record to 1-5 on the year while the Crusaders improved to 3-2.
 
The Mocs were unable to find the back of the net in the first and third quarters where they were outscored in those 30 minutes, 4-0, which proved to be the difference in the end.
 
Junior Jacob Czyz did all he could for the Mocs at the faceoff as he captured 17-of-20 (.850) including 9-of-10 (.900) in the second half. He scooped up a game-high 11 ground balls as well. Junior Jack Epley was the only Moccasin with multiple points as he scored a pair of goals off 10 shots including five on goal, all team-highs.
 
Senior Mason McQuiggin, sophomore Maddux Walton, junior Nolan Tighe and freshman Brady Colarik all added one goal while senior Gavin O'Connor chipped in an assist.
 
Four Moccasins earned a caused turnover in the loss including O'Connor, senior Brydon Robichaud, junior Anthony Guglielmo and senior Isaiah Thomas.
 
Graduate student Michael Simone earned nine saves in goal as he played all 60 minutes for the Mocs. Belmont Abbey keeper Christian Tomei picked up 15 saves in the victory.
 
The Crusaders opened the game with four-unanswered goals including a 3-0 win of the opening quarter. The Moccasins broke through for the first time at the 8:05 mark of the second as Epley finally bested the Belmont Abbey keeper. Less than a minute later Tighe picked up a goal and the 3-0 run by the Mocs ended at the 5:05 mark as Epley scored his second goal of the day in a man-up situation off an assist from O'Connor. The Crusaders were able to sneak in a late goal with 21 seconds left to enter the half time break up 5-3.
 
The second half began with five unanswered goals by the hosts as Belmont Abbey took a 10-3 lead with just 3:40 left in the game. The Moccasins battled back and scored three goals over the final 3:28 but it was not enough as the Crusaders hung on for the 10=6 victory.
 
The Mocs will return home to begin preparation for their Sunshine State Conference opener on the road at Embry-Riddle on Saturday, March 8 at noon.
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