SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In a battle of top-10 teams nationally, the Saint Anselm College men's lacrosse team fell to Le Moyne College by a 9-8 score on Saturday.

The Hawks, who are ranked ninth in the most recent United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division II National Poll, suffer their first loss of the 2023 season, dropping to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in Northeast-10 Conference play. The Dolphins, who are the No. 1 team in the same poll, improve to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 against league opponents.

Senior Jack Andrews (Cumberland, R.I.) matched a game-high three goals in the contest. Junior Nick Larsen (Northborough, Mass.) was credited with two goals with classmate Chase Lilly (Trumbull, Conn.) registering one goal and one assist for two points. Senior Jack Robinson (Wilbraham, Mass.) and freshman Chris Claflin (Newton, Mass.) netted one goal apiece.

Senior David Olsen (Salem, N.H.) made seven saves in the cage for the Hawks. Olsen moves to 2-1 through the opening three games of 2023.

The Hawks would hold a 7-5 lead through three quarters but a pair of Dolphins goals from Ethan Loun and Ryan Eisenmann tied the score at seven with just under five minutes to play. Saint Anselm responded with a goal from Claflin 4:08 to regain the Hawks lead.

However, Loun and Kyle Caves combined for one goal apiece in the final two minutes as the Dolphins grabbed the 9-8 win.

Le Moyne took a 3-0 lead on a goal by Joey Pezzimenti but Andrews got the Hawks on the scoreboard with 5:49 left in the opening period.

After an up-goal by Le Moyne with 6:36 left in the second quarter, Saint Anselm would rattle off three consecutive goals, two from Andrews and one from Lilly, to hold a 5-4 lead at halftime.

The Hawks scoring run extended to five with a pair of early third quarter tallies but Isaac Frechette and Larsen swapped goals to close the quarter with the Hawks ahead, 7-5.

Senior Ryan Slattery (North Andover, Mass.) caused a game-high two turnovers while three Saint Anselm student-athletes scooped up three ground balls each.

Senior Craig Yannone (Lynnfield, Mass.) won 10-of-20 faceoffs in the contest.

Saint Anselm is back in action on Saturday, Mar. 25 when they welcome No. 4 Adelphi to the Hilltop for a 12 p.m. start from Grappone Stadium.