HARROGATE, Tenn. (March 25, 2015) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's lacrosse team outscored Lincoln Memorial University, 6-4, in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough as the Railsplitters held on to defeat the ThunderWolves, 16-14, Wednesday at LMU Lacrosse Field.
The loss, the Pack's narrowest setback of the season, drops CSU-Pueblo's record to 0-8 in its inaugural season. Also competing in its first season as a program, Lincoln Memorial improves its overall record to 2-8.
For the game, the Pack held the statistical advantage in several categories, including shots (34-30), ground balls (42-39) and faceoffs won (17-16). CSU-Pueblo registered program highs in points (24), goals (14) and assists (10).
Jamil Modaffari (Jr., Pen Yan, N.Y.) led the ThunderWolves' offensive attack, tallying program single-game records in points (6) and goals (4). Modaffari's four goals extended his team-leading total to 15 for the season. Chas Welch (So. Dacula, Ga.) notched a career-high three markers, while Hunter Thompson (Fr., Greenwood Village, Colo.) and Nick Cervi (Fr., Pueblo, Colo.) chipped in with two goals each.
In addition to his two goals, Thompson added a program single-game record three assists. Cervi and Modaffari both notched a pair of helpers.
Garrett Palmer (Fr., Gilbert, Ariz.) was a very efficient 8-for-12 at the faceoff "X" for the ThunderWolves. The freshman also added a game-high seven ground balls. Preston DeHerrera (So., Northglenn, Colo.) caused a contest-best three turnovers on the defensive side of the field for the visitors.
In between the pipes, Nick Richards (Fr., Henderson, Nev.) notched nine saves in the loss.
The game was scoreless for the first eight minutes of the opening quarter, before Cervi recorded his first goal of the contest off of an assist from Thompson at the 6:56 mark.
After a Lincoln Memorial goal tied the score at one apiece, the Pack scored two out of the next three markers to move in front, 3-2, with 1:12 remaining in the opening period. Modaffari and Welch tallied a goal each during the stretch for CSU-Pueblo.
The Railsplitters evened the game at 3-3 with 34 seconds left in the quarter and parlayed that score into a 4-0 run to take a 6-3 advantage with 5:21 elapsed in the second stanza.
The ThunderWolves held the home team to just one more goal the rest of the first half and were able to find the back of the net twice in the final 3:53. Cervi and Modaffari both tallied their second goals of the contest in the waning minutes of the first half to trim the deficit to 7-5 heading into the break.
Lincoln Memorial opened the third quarter with three goals in the first 4:22 to extend its lead to 10-5.
Cody Bolen (Fr., Castle Rock, Colo.) halted the 3-0 run by the Railsplitters with his seventh goal of the season as the Pack managed to outscore the home team, 3-2, the remainder of the third quarter. Welch and Tyler Goodwin (Fr., Littleton, Colo.) also scored in the stanza to pull the Pack to within four, at 12-8, heading into the fourth quarter.
Thompson scored an unassisted goal in the opening minute of the final stanza to trim the deficit to three, at 12-9.
After a Railsplitters' goal at the 11:27 mark, Thompson and Modaffari answered with a goal each to pull the ThunderWolves to within two, at 13-11, with 10:49 left in regulation.
Lincoln Memorial tacked on a pair of goals to push its lead back to four, at 15-11, with 4:17 showing on the game clock.
Trailing by four with just over four minutes remaining in the game, CSU-Pueblo did not go quietly. Palmer assisted on Modaffari's fourth goal of the game and 15th of the season just six seconds after the Railsplitter's score.
A goal by Lincoln Memorial extended the advantage back to four, at 16-11, with 3:26 left in the contest.
Palmer and Welch tallied a goal each in the final 2:55, but it was not quite enough as the Railsplitters held on to defeat the Pack, 16-14.
The ThunderWolves remain on the road for their next contest, traveling to Grand Junction to face Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association member Colorado Mesa University April 3.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
