DANBURY, CT – On Thursday night, the Maritime College men's lacrosse team began its 2023 season with a matchup at Western Connecticut.  After falling behind 6-2, the Privateers rallied to tie the score at 7-7 early in the third quarter.  However, Maritime (0-1) ultimately fell to the Wolves (1-0) by a 12-11 count at the Westside Athletic Complex.

WestConn built a 6-1 lead before Connor Tomich (Sayville, NY) found the back of the net with 43 seconds left in the first quarter.  Parker Reilly (West Islip, NY) then added a pair of goals early in the second quarter to pull Maritime within 6-4.  Jonathan Russack-Baker scored for the Wolves just seven seconds after Reilly's second tally, but Sean Foley (Long Beach, NY) immediately countered 26 seconds later, bringing the Privateers within 7-5 at halftime.

After goals by Reilly and Patrick Schnell (Jericho, NY) tied the game at 7-7, WestConn went back in front on Julian Duque's man-up tally.  Brian Drost (Shoreham, NY) evened the score again before the Wolves ended the third quarter on a 4-2 run to take a 12-10 lead into the final period.

Reilly's fourth goal of the contest once again brought the Privateers within one, 12-11, with 12:47 remaining.  Despite firing 11 shots in the fourth quarter, however, Maritime was unable to find an equalizer.  WestConn goalkeeper Brendan Grove (1-0) made three of his 13 saves in the fourth quarter to preserve the Wolves' 12-11 victory.

Seven different Privateers found the back of the net, led by Reilly's four tallies.  Schnell also scored twice, while Tomich and Foley each had a goal and an assist.  Joseph Bruno (East Islip, NY) and Matthew Weigand (Massapequa, NY) both picked up four ground balls, and Matthew Guercio (Smithtown, NY) caused a pair of turnovers to go along with a goal and two ground balls.  Jack Daresta (Massapequa, NY) (0-1) was credited with 10 saves in a losing effort.

For the Wolves, Duque finished with four goals, while Trey Aronow tallied five points on three goals and two assists.  Benjamin Hawthorne and Tristan McMahon each added a goal and two assists.  Russack-Baker collected a game-high nine ground balls, and Ryan Kinsley recorded five caused turnovers.

Maritime now has almost a week off before returning to action.  The Privateers visit New Paltz (0-0) next Wednesday at 3 p.m.