LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine lacrosse team dropped a 12-6 decision to the visiting Quinnipiac Bobcats today at a sun-drenched Owsley B. Frazier Stadium in a non-conference NCAA Division I contest.

While the loss was disappointing, the Knights may have lost more than just a game as All-American Bobby Schmitt suffered an injury in the game's first quarter.

"We don't know exactly what's going on," said Bellarmine Coach Kevin Burns about Schmitt's injury, "but a competitor like Bobby, I know he's hurt if he couldn't come back in the game," 

On the field, the visiting Bobcats never trailed as they tallied the game's first two goals and did not surrender the lead.

After falling behind 4-1 early in the second quarter, the Knights fought back to get back to within one as Jack Perkins and Tucker Ciessau each collected their season's sixth goals.

Quincy responded with another goal before the horn and took a 5-3 lead into halftime.

After the break, the Bobcats blew the game wide open, scoring six unanswered goals to extend their lead to 8 with 10:01 remaining in the game.

Bellarmine made a bit of a comeback with three straight scores, but the Knights' offense came alive too late as Quinnipiac registered the game's final goal to take the 12-6 victory.

"They (the Bobcats) did a really good job," Burns said. "In the fourth quarter, we were able to play a little quicker and started having some success.  We just couldn't get there in those earlier quarters."

Statistically, Quinnipiac fired off five more shots, recorded three more saves, and dominated the faceoffs, where Will Vitelli took all 22 for the Bobcats, winning 15.

"The faceoff position is so technical, sometimes a guy using a bit of a different technique can wreck something we're doing," Burns said.  "(Quinnipiac was) doing that so we threw a couple of different guys in there.  I thought Tyler Nangle did a decent job going in there, but obviously we needed to do a little bit better."

Quinnipiac's Brian Feldman and Matt Frost each collected a hat trick and Foster Cuomo added three assists and a goal to lead the Bobcat offense today.

The Knights were paced by Perkins, who finished with three goals on eight shots. Tanner Barco added a pair of goals, and Brian Wall contributed three assists.

Bellarmine falls to 1-3 on the season while the Bobcats draw even at 1-1.

The Knights are on the road this week, traveling to Columbus, Ohio to participate in the Midwest Classic hosted by Ohio State.  Bellarmine faces Detroit on Friday, March 4 and then squares off against the host Buckeyes on Sunday.

BOX SCORE (HTM)