WHEELING, W. Va. (Feb. 11, 2017) - The Molloy men's lacrosse team started the 2017 season with a comeback victory on the road against the Cardinals of Wheeling Jesuit University. The Lions rallied, scoring four straight goals in the fourth quarter to pick up the 11-9 win. Senior Connor Slane (North Bablylon, N.Y.) led the way for Molloy, scoring a game-high four goals while junior Ryan Toomey (Hicksville, N.Y.) picked up 12 saves in net for the maroon and white. 

The Lions fell behind early, as Luke Gilman (Annapolis, Md.) scored the first goal of the contest. The lead didn't last long, however, as 10 seconds later Molloy followed up with back-to-back goals from Slane and senior Jon Camposa (Syosset, N.Y.) to go up 2-1. Gilman netted a second goal for the Cardinals with 6:07 left in the first quarter to tie the contest. Molloy would carry a two-goal lead into the second frame following consecutive goals from freshmen Kevin Pastier (Plainview, N.Y.) and Colin Kotarski (Rocky Point, N.Y.).

Slane would pick up his third goal of the day in the second quarter, but the remainder of the frame belonged to Wheeling Jesuit as the Cardinals found the back of the net four times to take a 6-5 lead into halftime. The effort continued into the third, as the Lions found themsevles down 8-5 with 9:29 left in the third. Goals from Camposa and Slane brought the maroon and white within one, but Michael Stillings (Apple Valley, Minn.) launched one into the back of the net with 1:40 left in the quarter to set the score at 9-7 as the teams headed into the final frame.

The Lions roared to life in the last 10 minutes of play, scoring four straight goals. In the first minute of play, junior Jaron Greenidge (Flanders, N.Y.) picked up a ground ball following a Cardinals turnover. A successful clear led to a goal from Camposa to bring Molloy back within one goal. A man-up goal from Pastier knotted the score at nine with 13:47 left in the contest. 

Freshman Sean Daly (New Hyde Park, N.Y) broke the tie with seven minutes to play as the midfielder scored his first collegiate goal. Slane would add his fourth of the day as he found the back of the net with 5:41 to send the score to 11-9 in favor of the visitors. 

The Lions outshot the Cardinals 36-31 with 23 shots on target. Faceoff specialist senior Frank Sciulla (Rocky Point, N.Y.) went 15-of-24 on faceoffs on the afternoon for Molloy. The maroon and white also scooped up 35 ground balls compared to Wheeling Jesuit's 25 led by six from both Greenidge and junior Zach Antonette (Seaford, N.Y.). 

Molloy will return to action on Saturday (Feb. 18) as they face Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio beginning at 12:00 p.m.