Comeback Falls Short for Men's Lacrosse Against No. 2 Cumberlands

ATHENS, Tenn.- The men's lacrosse team played their first home game of the season on Friday. The team hosted the No. 2 University of the Cumberlands Patriots in a non-conference game. A second half comeback fell short in a 15-11 outcome.

The opponents stole the momentum early by scoring the first seven goals of the contest. Jack Driscoll got the Bulldogs on the board and Jameson Koch made it back-to-back goals for the team. Cumberlands scored one more goal before the end of the first quarter, leading 8-2 at the quarter break. 

TWU was not able to find their footing on offense in the second quarter as they were held scoreless. Cumberlands added three goals to their lead, holding a 11-2 advantage at the halftime break.

The offense came to life in the third quarter for the Bulldogs, stealing the momentum by scoring the first four goals to cut into the lead. Reece Ringer scored the first two goals while Madden Leslie scored the next two goals for the Bulldogs, moving the score to 11-6. Cumberlands scored one goal before the end of the third quarter to take a 12-6 lead into the fourth quarter. 

Tennessee Wesleyan scored three of the first four goals of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to three goals. Leslie opened the scoring 40 seconds into the quarter and was followed by a Driscoll score. After a Cumberlands goal, Ringer scored again to move the score to 13-9. Cumberlands scored the next two goals though to move their lead back out to six goals. Leslie and Kennedy Moore scored for the Bulldogs before the end of regulation, leaving the team short of the comeback.

Leslie led the team with four goals to go along with three goals by Ringer. Jack Shaw had 14 saves in the net.

Up next for TWU (1-1) is a neutral site contest against William Woods University at Lakeland Preparatory School, Memphis, Tenn. on Friday, Feb. 27. The game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.