BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— In a home non-conference matchup against the Lourdes University Gray Wolves Friday afternoon, the Montreat men's lacrosse team fell by a score of 15-9, dropping to 0-5 on the season in the process.
 
Lourdes (3-0) jumped out to a 3-0 advantage with a trio of goals in the initial quarter before the Cavaliers answered to knot the contest at three through 15 minutes. Brayden Hittle, Connor Walsh and Johnny Miles capped off the run to tie the game.
 
In the second, the Gray Wolves notched a pair of scores prior to another response by the home side, this time off the stick of Ben Stephenson, who brought the Cavs within a goal (5-4) at the intermission thanks to his tally with two seconds on the clock.
 
The visitors peppered Montreat's net with shots as Jay Chance stopped eight attempts in the second quarter alone to end the half with 11 stops. Lourdes made four saves on eight Cavalier shots on frame.
 
Walsh tied the game at five just 14 seconds into the third period, but the Gray Wolves registered the ensuing four goals to go up 9-5 midway through the frame. Hittle and Stephenson each tallied their second goals to pull the Cavs within two; however, Lourdes recorded six of the next seven goals of the contest to grow its advantage out to seven (15-8) with 4:31 remaining in the competition.
 
Walsh completed his hat trick and Jonathan Gunn collected his first goal of the season to round out the scoring for the Cavaliers in the 15-9 defeat. Lourdes doubled up Montreat in total shots (52-26) and placed 21 more shots on target (35-14). Chance made 20 saves to keep the Cavs in the matchup, but the home team ultimately fell and trailed in ground balls (51-43) as well as successful clears (23-15), faceoffs (15-11) and opposition turnovers (31-20).
 
Men's lacrosse now takes on No. 8 Tennessee Wesleyan next Saturday. Opening faceoff at Pulliam Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.