FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A slow third quarter hurt the Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team as they dropped a tight 14-13 decision against Mount St. Mary's on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers are now 1-1 against the Northeast Conference. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 3-4, 1-1
Mount St. Mary's: 4-6, 1-1
 
Top Performers:
Sal Miccio: 3 goals, 1 assist, 7 SOG, 3 GB, 1 CT
Jake Garb: 1 goal, 3 assists 
Carson Spooner: 2 goals, 1 assist, 5 SOG, 2 GB
Johnny Morgan: 2 goals, 2 SOG, 1 CT
Skyler Wilde: 2 goals, 5 SOG 
 
Goalies:
Nicky LaBanca (SHU): (L, 2-2) 10 saves, 14 goals, 2 GB, 1 CT
Griffin McGinley (MSM): (W, 3-6) 21 saves, 13 goals
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers take a break from their NEC slate with a non-conference match-up with Lafayette on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The game was rescheduled from earlier this season and will be played at Campus Field. 
 
Of Note:
The two teams battled from the opening face off as SHU held just a one-goal advantage at halftime, 9-8. 
 
The Pioneers were held to just two goals in the third quarter which allowed the Mountaineers to grab a lead that they would not surrender. Mount St. Mary's outscored SHU, 4-2, before the final frame. Despite only netting two goals, the Pioneers were the aggressors in the third quarter as they out-shot the Mount, 14-8. Mount's goalkeeper, Griffin McGinley, stopped six. 
 
The fourth quarter saw just two goals from each team. Sal Miccio capitalized on a man-up opportunity, off a pass from Jake Garb, to even the score at 12-all with six minutes remaining. However, the Mountaineers found the back of the net less than a minute later to regain the lead. The visitors followed with another goal at the 3:05 mark to grow a two-goal cushion, 14-12. The Garb and Miccio duo struck again to pull within one, but the clock was not on SHU's side as there was just 20 seconds remaining and the Mount was able to hold on. 
 
For the second time this year, the Pioneers led in face offs, 19-12. Senior Daniel Rodriguez compiled a game-high 18 at the X. 
 
The Pioneer defense held the Mountaineers to 1-for-6 in man-up opportunities. SHU capitalized in 3-of-6 of its opportunities, including going 2-for-6 in the fourth quarter alone. 
 
Miccio posted his third multi-goal game of the year as he led the team with three. 
 
Garb dished out a career-high three assists. Two of his three assists were to Miccio and he had a hand in all three of SHU's man-up goals. Garb scored in one and assisted the other two.