FROSTBURG, Md. – For the first time in program history, the Frostburg State Men's Lacrosse team took down No. 14 Mercy in a 13-12 victory at home Saturday afternoon for their East Coast Conference opener.
 
The Mavericks began the game on the front foot, winning the opening face-off and seeing one shot blocked while another was stopped by junior Jack Smith before scoring on their third two minutes in. After Smith made another save in net, FSU finally got themselves up the field in attack, putting an effort wide before junior Henry Sykes fired home. Out of another MU face-off win, senior Matt Williams got his offense the ball back with a caused turnover, as senior Hayden McCullough passed to junior Hayden Celio for a score, then just seconds later, senior Sean Mullineaux took advantage of a win at the X to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Frostburg's momentum continued, as just a minute later, a failed Mercy clear allowed Sykes to feed senior Graham Allison for a three-goal advantage. FSU couldn't add onto the lead with an effort wide and another saved, as the Mavericks were able to stem the tide with a goal. Their high hopes quickly faded as another pair of back-to-back Bobcat face-offs led to goals from Celio and junior Jackson Kanzler, with the score now standing at 6-2. FSU then was whistled for a penalty, allowing Mercy to net a man-up goal, however as time ran out in the period, junior Jack Hooks scooped up a loose ball and found the back of the net to take a 7-3 lead into the second.
 
Both teams struggled to create chances through the first four minutes of the next frame, trading a shot high and another blocked, as Frostburg was first to strike, with Hooks' second of the day followed by junior Luke Roach getting on the board either side of MU netting for a 9-4 score. After the sides traded turnovers, the Bobcats were whistled for another penalty, as it took the Mavericks just 16 seconds to take advantage.
 
Through the next five minutes, there would be only two combined shots, as juniors Josh High and Chase Kelly and sophomore Brody Monroe all forced Mercy turnovers, eventually allowing junior Logan Yost to find sophomore Jack Laye in front of goal for a five-goal advantage. Over the final three minutes, MU peppered the Frostburg goal with shots, as Smith was forced into a trio of saves while three more were high, wide, and blocked, with the visitors eventually scoring to take things into the half at 10-6.
 
It took less than 50 seconds for the Mavericks to trim the deficit further at the start of the third, then despite Smith making another pair of stops, the visitors netted again four minutes later to pull within 10-8. Having managed just one shot through the first six minutes, FSU started to generate some pressure through Celio and Mullineaux putting efforts off frame while Roach and graduate Tyrin Long were both denied by Mercy keeper Peter Murphy.
 
With MU trying to make their way up the field and get even closer, senior Braeden Bushyager came up with a CT that led to Sykes netting a solo effort to stop the run and grow the lead back out to three. Smith helped the Bobcats stave off a minute of being man-down, but the Mavericks came right back with another goal to bring things to 11-9. Mercy tried to trim the deficit further, but a pair of shots missed wide while another was grabbed by Smith to end the third with Frostburg up two.
 
Opening the fourth period with a face-off win, MU pulled within one after 90 seconds, then after Celio was denied by Murphy, the visitors tacked on their equalizer at 11-11. Junior Ryder Walter tried to get some life back into the team with a caused turnover, but Mullineaux saw his shot come back off the post on offense. Following a turnover from each side, Mercy took the lead for the first time since the opening quarter with just under seven minutes to go. Seeking a quick response, Sykes was denied by Murphy, then the frame of the goal came to Frostburg's rescue twice in a row, keeping the deficit at just one.
 
Now inside the final two minutes, FSU got the clear and set up the offense, where freshman Keegan Green circled the high slot and fired from the left side to knot things up at 12-12. On the resulting face-off, freshman Ayden Viscount came up with a big win, scooping the groundball to allow Head Coach Steve Gartelman to draw up a play from a timeout. After running some time down off the shot clock, Green passed to Celio behind the cage, as he drove in front of goal and fired low, finding the net for the go-ahead score.  The Mavericks would get the next face-off, calling a timeout of their own in hopes of sending the game to overtime. With the ball coming over to the left side, Williams threw his body at the shot attempt to get a deflection, then as the Bobcats failed the clear, a last-ditch effort went well wide of Smith's goal to seal the 13-12 victory.
 
Celio led the attack with a hat trick on the day, while Sykes and Hooks each provided a pair of scores and Yost added two assists. Walter and Williams drove the defensive effort with a combined five caused turnovers and eight groundballs, as Smith made nine saves in net to go with five GB's.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 5-3 on the year, while Mercy drops to 4-2. The Bobcats next will face Wilmington (Del.) on Wednesday, March 18 at 5 p.m. from Homewood Field in Baltimore, Md. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.