FROSTBURG, Md. - The Frostburg State University men's lacrosse team held off a fiesty Susquehanna squad in a back-and-forth battle as FSU pulled out a slim 10-9 win, Tuesday.

Box Score
Photo Gallery

The two teams battled back-and-forth for much of the second half and Bobcat freshman Ryan Serio (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) scored with 9:24 left in the fourth quarter to put the hosts up 10-7.

FSU (4-7) then held on as Susquehanna (4-2) scored the game's final two goals to bring the score to within 10-9 with just 1:13 left. The Crusaders won the ensuing faceoff, but turned the ball over and FSU ran out the clock to secure the win.

Serio led the Bobcats in scoring with three goals and three assists. Junior Dan Dowd (Friendship, Md./Southern) found the net twice and handed out one assist while freshman Zach Kowatch (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) scored three times.

After the teams battled to a 2-2 tie in the opening quarter, Serio and Dowd each scored in the second quarter as the Bobcats led 4-2 at halftime.

The halftime lead would turn out to be key for the Bobcats as the teams would trade goals for much for the second half. Both teams scored three goals in the third and FSU carried a 7-5 edge in the fourth stanza.

Frostburg increased its lead to 8-5 early in the fourth, but the Crusaders brought the deficit back to within two with a score with 11:16 to play. FSU scored at 10:04, but Susquehanna tallied its only man-up goal of the contest at 9:33 to keep the deficit at two, 9-7.

Susquehanna held a slim 35-34 lead in shots behind a 23-15 edge in the second half. The Bobcats were a near perfect 20-of-21 clears while the visitors held a slim 12-11 lead in faceoffs.

Serio not only led the Bobcats in scoring, but scooped up a team-high five groundballs. Dowd and freshman Zach Burkhardt (Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech) added four groundballs as well. Freshman keeper Tyler Haines (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) made 10 saves, his third-straight game with double-digit stops.

Dustin Breakey led all players with five goals for the Crusaders while Jordan Daney made 13 saves in net, taking the loss.

The Bobcats return to Capital Athletic Conference play on Saturday when they travel to Mary Washington at 2:00 pm.