MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Despite four goals from senior
Tucker Ciessau, the visiting Bellarmine University lacrosse team opened the season Saturday with a 10-8 loss to Robert Morris.
In addition to Ciessau,
Ryan Coukoulis scored twice for Bellarmine (0-1) against Robert Morris (1-1), while freshman
Morgan Macko netted his first collegiate goal and sophomore
Ian Miller added a score. Senior
Jack Perkins led the Knights with two assists, with junior
Brian Wall and sophomore
Cole Wolfson contributing one apiece.
Freshman goalkeeper
Jordan Dondoyano collected 12 saves in his collegiate debut for the Knights. Junior
Aidan Christian had a team-best three ground balls and also had two caused turnovers.
Ciessau scored twice in the first quarter to stake Bellarmine to a 2-1 advantage. Robert Morris took its first lead after two goals inside the first four minutes of the second quarter, but Ciessau knotted it up after securing a hat trick with 10:16 left in the frame.
Robert Morris scored two more goals — the second with only 11 seconds left before halftime — to enter the intermission with a 5-3 lead. The 4-1 goal differential in the second period proved to be costly for Bellarmine.
The Knights and Colonials both scored five goals in the second half. Robert Morris gained leads of 7-4 and 8-5 in the third quarter as Coukoulis' goals kept Bellarmine within striking distance.
Miller delivered a critical goal with 14 seconds left in the third, and Macko found the net with 8:03 left in the fourth as Bellarmine rallied to within 8-7. Unfortunately, Robert Morris answered with a pair of goals in less than a minute's span to lead 10-7 with 4:47 left. Ciessau buried his fourth goal with 24 seconds left to cap the scoring.
Adrian Torok-Orban and Justin Mayfield had two goals apiece for Robert Morris. Alex Heger had 13 saves.
Bellarmine held a 41-37 advantage in shots. Robert Morris won 12-of-22 faceoffs.
Bellarmine hosts Michigan at 6 p.m. (ET) next Saturday in its home debut at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
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BOX SCORE (HTM)
