MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's lacrosse team hit the road on Wednesday (Mar. 26) for a road contest against Mount Vernon Nazarene. Despite a strong second-half rally, UM-Dearborn couldn't overcome a tough first half that saw them trail 9-3 at halftime. Mount Vernon eventually won the contest by a final score of 12-9.
The game started with Mount Vernon Nazarene dominating the first quarter. They built a commanding 7-1 lead, with goals coming from Ryan LaAsmar, Colton McKee, and Angelo Elia, among others. Michigan-Dearborn's lone goal of the first quarter came from Garrett Kern, but it was clear early on that the Wolverines were struggling to keep up with the pace of the Cougars.
In the second quarter, the Wolverines showed signs of life with a couple of well-executed goals. Jeremy Fancett got things started with a man-up goal off an assist from Brodie Mahmud. Later, Reece Rath followed suit with an unassisted goal, but Mount Vernon Nazarene responded with goals from Carson Steinmetz and Ethan Haney to keep their lead intact at 9-3 heading into halftime.
The third quarter saw Michigan-Dearborn shift into high gear. Ryan Savage's goal off an assist from Aidan Meyers helped spark the Wolverine offense. Brodie Mahmud, Garrett Kern, and Fancett each added a goal to bring Michigan-Dearborn within striking distance at 10-7. However, despite the offensive surge, Mount Vernon Nazarene responded with a quick goal from LaAsmar, maintaining their three-goal cushion.
The Wolverines pushed hard in the fourth quarter, with Gabriel De La Paz scoring early to pull within two at 10-8. Fancett added another goal to make it 10-9, but Mount Vernon Nazarene answered back with a goal from McKaden Thomas and another from Elia to seal the game at 12-9.
Offensively, Michigan-Dearborn was led by Jeremy Fancett, who scored three goals and added an assist. Garrett Kern contributed two goals, while Ryan Savage also tallied one goal and one assist. Brodie Mahmud played a key role in setting up goals, finishing with one goal and two assists. Goalie Jack Meyers made eight saves in the loss
