Lacrosse falls to Utah, 12-11

Box Score (PDF)

MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University men's lacrosse team dropped a 12-11 game to Utah on Saturday afternoon at Valley Fields in its home opener.

Russell Melendez scored a hat trick for the Golden Eagles (1-2), while Devon Cowan and Griffin Fries each added a pair of scores. Thomas Washington won 13-of-20 faceoffs for Marquette, while defenseman Mason Woodward picked up seven ground balls and caused six Utah turnovers.

The Utes (2-1) were led by two goals apiece from Jordan Hyde, Tyler Bradbury and MJ McMahon, while goalie Zion Dechesere made eight saves in net.

Melendez returned to the lineup for MU after missing the Jacksonville game last weekend due to injury. In addition to his return, freshman Will Foster made his first career start in the midfield and scored his first goal in the fourth quarter. Foster's goal tied the game at 10 before a pair of Utah scores put the Utes in front 12-10 late.

Melendez scored with 37 seconds remaining on the man advantage to pull MU within one, 12-11, but MU could not secure the equalizer in the final seconds after securing a faceoff win.

NOTABLES:

The game marked the start of a four-game homestand for the Golden Eagles, who play 6-of-7 at Valley Fields through the start of BIG EAST Conference play in April.
Today's action was the first regular season game between the two squads, though the two did face each other in Feb. 2019 in exhibition play in Salt Lake City. The Golden Eagles were 3-2 all-time against Utah head coach Andrew McMinn from his time at Robert Morris, most recently that 11-10 loss at Valley Fields on March 7, 2020.
MU's previous home game at full capacity was an 11-10 loss to Robert Morris and then-head coach Andrew McMinn on March 7, 2020. The Golden Eagles would play one more game that year at Michigan on March 11, the final game of the NCAA lacrosse season.
Russell Melendez made a his return to the lineup after missing the Jacksonville game. Foster was also out against the Dolphins
Woodward's six caused turnovers is a new Marquette single-game record, surpassing the record of five recorded by Liam Byrnes on March 6, 2016 against Detroit Mercy.
Cowan stretched his goal-scoring streak to 20-straight games.

UP NEXT: The Golden Eagles continue their homestand on Tuesday, March 1 against the University of Michigan at 1 p.m. Central time.

Keep up with the Marquette men's lacrosse program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteMLax) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMLax).