ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University Men's Lacrosse team locked in a tight battle against Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday evening as they fell in overtime by a final score of 18-17.
 
Neither team led by more thantwo throughout the entire contest as Brendan Boschi led the Knights with a five goal, five assist performance. Matt Morris added four goals, two assists and Connor Hurley picked up a hat-trick. Owen Avelar made 16 saves in goal.
 
Braden Travaglini got the scoring started 2:15 into the game but Virginia Wesleyan responded with a quick two goal run. Neumann retook the lead, scoring three of the next four as they took a 4-3 lead with 3:25 left in the first, thanks to Luke Sykes, Gannon McKee, and Boschi. With 57 seconds left, the Marlins tied the game up, heading into the first break.
 
After Virginia Wesleyan retook the lead on a man-up goal early in the second, Boschi, Jake Methlie, and Morris got the Knights back on top for a 7-5 lead with 11:49 left. The Marlins kept pulling within one, but Neumann had the answers until, with 8:03 left in the half, Virginia Wesleyan went on a 3-0 run to take a 10-9 lead heading into the intermission.
 
Hurley and Morris got things rolling in the third as they picked up two goals each as part of a 4-1 Neumann run to make it 13-11. The Marlins scored three straight and 4 of 5 to lead by one but with nine seconds left in the third, Boschi struck again, sending the game into the fourth, even at 15.
 
Both defenses clamped down in the final regulation quarter as Virginia Wesleyan scored two in the early going for a 17-15 lead. With 1:27 left, Boschi pulled the Knights within one and Morris tied the game and forced overtime with six seconds left in the fourth. Unfortunately for Neumann, the Marlins grabbed the game-winner with 2:53 left in overtime.
 
Neumann (0-1) will hit the road for their next matchup as they take on Drew University on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 PM.