Men's Lacrosse falls short at Muskingum, lose 12-11

Men's Lacrosse falls short at Muskingum, lose 12-11

Steve Janik, Assistant Sports Information Director

NEW CONCORD, OHIO (March 29) - The Bethany College lacrosse team fell to Muskingum 12-11 in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday evening. 

With the loss, Bethany falls to 3-5, while Muskingum improves to 4-4.

The Bison were led by Will Gatling (Baltimore, Md./Northwestern) and Dan Booth (Stockport, Manchester, England/Poynton) who each tallied three goals with Booth also adding a helper. Anthony Helias (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and Tyler Peck (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) also contributed two goals apiece.

Muskingum lead 10-6 heading into the fourth quarter before the Bison fell just short of a comeback, holding a 5-2 goal advantage in the final 15 minutes. Gatling got things started with his second goal of the day before Booth netted a man-up goal minutes later, making it 10-8 Muskies. 

After the hosts increased their lead to three, with another score, Bethany rallied off back-to-back goals from Booth and Helias, drawing the score to 11-10 with just over five minutes to play. 

The Muskies netted their final goal of the contest at the 3:34 mark. From there the Bison stayed on the offensive to try and complete the comeback. Over the next three minutes, Bethany got several shots off before Peck scored a man-up goal with just 35 seconds left in the game. The Green and White came back out and won the ensuing face-off and called a timeout to setup the final play. Holland took the shot for it be saved by Muskingum goalie Phillip Dappen.

The Muskies scored a goal in the first minute of the game before the next 10 minutes of the contest were scoreless. Helias finally got the Bison on the board around the five minute mark before the hosts answered back, moments later. To close out the quarter, Booth and Gatling netted goals to give the Bison the early 3-2 advantage.

Bethany maintained that momentum into the second quarter, with Gatling and Peck adding to their lead, making it 5-2.

With under eight minutes to play in the first half, Muskingum took some momentum back rallying off three unanswered goals to tie it at five, down to the 4:38 mark. Brian Weakliem (Montgomery, N.J./Montgomery) gave the Bison back the lead with his second goal of the season; however, the hosts answered with a goal just before halftime to send the teams to the locker room tied at six.

Muskingum came out of the locker room hot, scoring four unanswered goals in the third quarter to head into the fourth with the four goal advantage.

Next up, Bethany travels to Hanover for an Ohio River Lacrosse Conference game that is set to start at 1pm.