Falcons' Late-Game Heroics Fight Until the End

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Concordia Wisconsin men's lacrosse team narrowly suffered a loss on Wednesday evening against the Dubuque Spartans, coming up just short in a late comeback attempt that saw the Falcons score four goals in the final 3:42 of the game. The contest marked a brief halt in conference play for Concordia, which saw its season record settle at 9-5 upon its conclusion.

Junior Gio Nowotarski (Reading, Pa.) broke into the scoresheet for the Falcons just 20 seconds after the opening faceoff. The goal represented his 30th tally of the season, marking his second consecutive year achieving the feat. Two days after setting a program record with ten scores, senior Parker Beaudry (Sherwood Park, Alta.) doubled the Falcons' lead midway through the quarter.

Dubuque managed to respond with a goal of its own in the following minute, but the Falcons strengthened their lead before the end of the frame, scoring twice in the final 1:24 of the opening period. After collecting an assist on the team's second tally, senior Caleb Ruger (Grafton, Wis.) notched a goal for Concordia, while Beuadry beat the buzzer to collect his second score of the game with one second remaining on the clock.

The Spartans submitted the majority of scoreboard entries in the second quarter, outscoring the Falcons three goals to one. Concordia's lone goal of the frame came off the stick of junior Griffin Bahr (Grand Rapids, Minn.), which left the Falcons with a one-goal advantage by the midway point of the game.

Dubuque claimed its first lead of the contest in the third, scoring a trio of goals to carry a 7-5 lead into the final period of play.

Sam Todd kicked off the fourth quarter with his third goal of the game for the Spartans, while Ruger immediately responded to trim the lead back down to two goals. In the minutes that followed, Dubuque amassed a three-goal scoring run that left it with the largest lead of the game at five scores.

However, the Falcons managed to string together a series of goals that left the team in prime position to make a comeback. With 3:42 remaining in the contest, junior Max Esposito (Gaithersburg, Md.) cut into the deficit while Beaudry added another goal 31 seconds later. Ruger contributed once more with just over a minute on the clock, and freshman Bryce Peterson (Waukesha, Wis.) pulled the Falcons within one goal in the final minute of play. Concordia won the ensuing faceoff and found a shot attempt, but the Spartans managed to hold onto their lead, thwarting the comeback.

The Falcons will resume conference play in their next matchup on April 20 against the 2-9 Beloit Buccaneers.