(Carlisle, Pa.)- The Dickinson College men's lacrosse team suffered a heartbreaking loss to #5-ranked Roanoke College on Saturday, falling 14-13. MattQuinton's game-high five goals led the way for #5-Roanaoke, as they improve to 7-0 on the season. Justin Tuma won 13-of-17 face-offs and controlled nine ground balls.

Roanoke struck first before the Devils answered with a pair of goals from first-years B.J. West Summit, N.J./Summit) and Ward Gruppo (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Prep). The teams traded back-to-back goals twice to give the Devils a 6-5 advantage at the end of the first period. The teams remained on the offensive in the second quarter with Roanoke holding the edge 6-4 to take an 11-10 lead into halftime.

The Red Devils closed out the first with back-to-back goals and started the second with three straight to take the biggest lead of the game, 9-5 at the 7:52 mark. Roanoke came alive, scoring the next six goals to pull in front 11-9. First-year Bobby Kingsley (Bethesda, Md./St. Albans) found the net with 22 seconds left in the half to make the score 11-10 at the break.

The teams proved to be a little more conservative in the second half. The Devils came out firing as Ted Sirvaitis (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) tied the game just 35 seconds into the third quarter. Casey Finkelstein (Owings Mills, Md./McDonogh) and Chris Dodson (Bethesda, Md./Landon) finished a 4-0 run for the Devils to put them in front 13-11 with 3:56 remaining in the period. Quinton scored his fifth goal of the day to pull the Maroons within one at the 1:35 mark.

The fourth quarter belonged to the defense as only two goals were scored in the final stanza. Roanoke tied the game early as Zach Thomas scored just 50 seconds into the period. Junior Pat March came around the crease to net what would be the game-winning goal at the 11:16 mark.

That would be all the scoring on the day, as junior Jake Dorsey stopped eight shots in the final quarter to finish with 14. Senior Russell Matthews (Chestertown, Md./Kent County) was outstanding in goal, making 16 saves, including five in the fourth quarter. Sirvaitis led a balanced Dickinson attack with two goals and a pair of assists. Senior Phil Caputo (Sewickley, Pa./Sewickley Academy) added two goals while Dodson tallied a goal and two assists.

Chris Breslin (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) and Al Golod (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) anchored a solid defensive effort, each with five ground balls. John Haire (Darien, Conn./Darien) turned in a strong performance as well, causing three turnovers. Gary Mercadante (Florham Park, N.J./Delbarton) and Dewey Dubord (Freeport, Maine/Governor Dummer) were keys to the Devils' transition.

The Red Devils slip to 3-2 overall. They are home again next Wednesday, hosting York College at 3:30 pm.

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CARLISLE, Pa. -- Roanoke College escaped with a 14-13 win over Dickinson on the road this afternoon. The win improved the Maroons to 7-0 on the season while the Red Devils slipped to 3-2.

In what was the closest game of the season, the Maroons tied the 1978 and 1979 teams for the best start in school-history. They are in elite company as the '78 team went on to win the College Division National Title and the '79 team advancing to the National Quarterfinals.

Roanoke was outshot for the first time this season, 52-43, but won the groundball battle, 42-38, in addition to winning 21 of 30 face-offs. The Maroons were successful in 21 of 27 clear attempts and converted all three of their man-up opportunities. They are now 4-1 all-time against Dickinson since 2000.

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2009-03-14