GRANTHAM, Pa.—The University of Scranton had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 13-6 loss to Messiah College in Middle Atlantic Conference action Tuesday afternoon.

Sophomore attacker Nick Ricucci (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) scored a game-high five goals and junior attacker Alex Finch (Finksburg, Md./Westminister) added four, including three in the second-half as the Falcons broke away from a 6-3 halftime lead to improve to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in the MAC.

Sophomore attacker Nick Youngstrom (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) scored two goals and assisted on another and senior midfielder Dan Stallone (South Plainfield, N.J./St. Joseph Metuchen) and sophomore midfielder Thomas Kornobis (Merrick, N.Y./W.C. Mepham) each had a goal and an assist for the Royals, now 3-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Scranton, which was out-shot by a 37-23 margin, also received a goal apiece from senior attackers Edward Boate (Media, Pa./Penncrest) and Sean O'Connor (Media, Pa./Penncrest).

Finch took control of the game by scoring three goals within an eight-minute span of the third period and Ricucci added another with 36 seconds remaining in the period to give Messiah a 10-5 lead entering the final 15 minutes of play. Ricucci opened the final stanza with a goal off an assist by senior midfielder Adam Myers (Fallston, Md./Fallston) to extend the Falcons' lead to six, 11-5, with 14:07 left. Myers answered less than a minute later with a goal off an assist by freshman Brent Stewart (Silver Spring, Md./Paintbranch) to dash any hopes of a Scranton rally.

Senior goalkeeper Thomas Davis (Media, Pa./Penncrest) made 11 saves for the Royals while Messiah's Ted Oberg (Lancaster, Pa./Susquehannock) was credited with nine in nearly 58 minutes of action.

The Royals will host the Rangers of Drew University in Middle Atlantic Conference action this Saturday, March 31, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field.

2007-03-27