MADISON, N.J. (March 20, 2019) – Despite a second-half comeback, the FDU-Florham men's lacrosse team was topped by Kean University 14-9 on Wednesday evening.
 
The Devils drop to 3-2 with the setback, while the Cougars move to 3-1 on the season.
 
The Cougars scored the games first five tallies within a span of 2:22 seconds. FDU got a pair back late in the frame, courtesy of freshman Zane Johnston and senior Michael Warg. Johnston converted a pass from junior John Guido before Warg closed the first quarter out with a tally from junior John Belanger. The Warg goal came with just 39 seconds remaining in the period.
 
Kean added four additional goals in the second, including a man-up marker with 5:51 remaining in the half to grab a 9-2 lead. Johnston broke the run with a nifty diving goal, cutting the gap to six entering halftime. The visiting Cougars held a 25-14 edge in shots, and had a commanding 12-2 advantage in the faceoff "X."
 
Despite being down six, the Devils mounted a furious rally in the second stanza. Senior Michael Adragna corralled the opening faceoff of the half and 43 seconds in the period; junior Pat Stewart pumped in his first goal of the night. Junior Adam Reifer stopped the Cougars on the next possession and off a successful clear, Belanger trimmed the deficit down to four with an unassisted goal.
 
The Devils kept the run going, and rookie MacGyver Hay was able to come with a critical turnover after dropping the next faceoff, and the Devils capitalized for their third goal in 2:59. This time it was Johnston who beat the Kean keeper to get the team within three. FDU was assessed a pair of penalties midway through the frame, but the Devils defense, behind a pair of Reifer saves, kept the Cougars off the board.
 
After Kean took a penalty for an illegal body check, Warg tallied a man-up goal from Belanger with 2:29 remaining in the period. The Devils defense denied all eight of Kean's shot attempts in the frame and scored on four of their six shots. Taking advantage of a Cougar penalty at the end of the third, Stewart fed Warg for a man-up tally 14 ticks into the fourth making it a one-goal game.
 
Guido completed the comeback at the 11:51 mark, leveling the game at nine with a man-up goal. The Devils were unable to gain a lead, as Kean closed the game out with the final five goals. The middle three came within a 1:35 span midway through the period.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Reifer made a season-high 17 stops, seven off his career-high set last season against Wilkes.
• Hay matched his career-high with seven ground balls while also causing two turnovers. The rookie also won six face-offs.
• Johnston and Warg each finished with a trio of goals, with Johnston tallying his first career hat trick.
• Adragna forced five turnovers while scooping up four ground balls.

 
UP NEXT
The Devils hit the road on Saturday, taking on Arcadia at 1 p.m.