MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The Alfred University men's lacrosse team fell during the opening game of its spring break training trip to Emmanuel College (MA) 10-13 on Monday afternoon at Ashley Booth Field.

Sophomore Jake Lynch (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) recorded four goals and an assist on the day while also recovering a ground ball. High school teammate and fellow sophomore Donny Sturdevant (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) had a perfect two-shot, two-goal performance to round out the multi-goal scorers for the Saxons (2-1, 0-0 Empire 8).

Junior John Winchell (Vestal, NY/Vestal) led Alfred University with two assists and added a goal of his own. Winchell's goal was the first of the day for the Saxons during a solo effort at 14:45 in the first quarter. Sturdevant increased the purple-and-gold lead to 2-0 at 12:30 with an unassisted goal of his own before Emmanuel got on the board minutes later.

The Saxons went on to increase their lead to 4-1 with freshman Joe Fornataro's (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) goal at 7:24 followed by Sturdevant's second of the day at 5:42. The Saints responded with four unanswered goals to close out the first and open the second quarters, setting AU down 4-5.

Brett McMichael tied the game at 5-5 with 8:15 left in the second off a pass from Lynch during the Saxons' man-up opportunity. Emmanuel retook the lead and built it to a six-goal advantage until Winchell found Lynch with 1:12 left in the third to make the score 6-11.

Junior Derek Bishopp (Livonia, NY/Livonia) was credited with the assist on the last goal of the third when fellow junior Nick Skibitsky (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) made it 7-11 with one second remaining. AU wouldn't go quietly as they scored three of the fourth quarter's five goals, all from Lynch and the last two on man-up situations.

Sophomore goalie Drew Gardner (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) recorded six saves but allowed seven. Gardner is now 2-1 on the season. Sophomore Chris Doktor (Irondequoit, NY/Eastridge) played the remaining two halves, stopping three and allowing six.

Junior faceoff specialist Jimmy Pratti (Slatehill, NY/Minisink Valley) won 16 of the game's 23 faceoffs and lost six. He also led the game in ground balls with 11. Emmanuel out-recovered the Saxons 33-28 on the day.

Senior Max Wilson (Menlo Park, CA/Menlo-Atherton), Winchell, junior Chris Diesenroth (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) and junior Nathan Bellis (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) all had two caused turnovers on the day to lead the Saxons. The Saints edged the Saxons in caused turnovers on the day 13-12.

The Saxons outshot Emmanuel 49-31 and will next continue their spring break trip training trip against the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Wednesday, March 9 at 1:00 pm before taking on Hilbert College, the following day at 11:00 am.