Schenectady, N.Y. – The 22nd-ranked Ithaca College men's lacrosse team (5-3) suffered a 6-5 setback at 12th-ranked Union (5-1) on Wednesday afternoon.

The contest was the Bombers' lowest scoring since a 6-5 loss at Nazareth on April 16, 2011.

Union netted the game's first goal, but three consecutive Bomber scores implemented a 3-1 Ithaca lead with 4:45 left in the second period. Union scored the final goal of the first half and the only of the third period to knot action at 3-3. Ithaca managed the first and last goals of the final stanza, but Union netted three in between to claim the victory in its home opener.

Five players scored for the Blue & Gold and four Bombers dished out one assist each. Senior Brian DiBetta, who had one tally, had a game-best five faceoff wins and freshman Matt Greenblatt added four. Senior Chris Duncan had a goal, an assist and was one of four with a team-best four ground balls. Sophomore Ryan Burns forced an Ithaca-high two turnovers.

The Dutchmen got on the board at the nine-minute mark of the first, but senior Devin Weinshank answered just 25 seconds later with a man-up goal on a Jacob Long assist. Duncan went unassisted and sophomore Pat Slawta capitalized on a Weinshank feed to give the Bombers a 3-1 lead at the 4:45 mark of the second. Union scored once more before the half and netted the game's only goal of the third to tie action at 3-3.

Senior Billy LaPerch assisted DiBetta for a go-ahead goal at 13:14 of the final frame, but the Dutchmen rattled off three straight en route to victory. Trailing 6-4, Duncan found the stick of freshman James Manilla for a goal at 4:18 to pull within one, but both teams went scoreless down the stretch as Union held on for the victory.

The Dutchmen held a 37-26 shot advantage and a slight 26-24 edge in ground balls. Ithaca won nine of 15 faceoffs and converted on 2-of-4 extra-man opportunities, while Union was 0-for-3.

The Bombers will next travel to Alfred on Wednesday, April 4 to open Empire 8 play.

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