Sparks Glencoe, Md. – Redshirt Sophomore Tyler Wagoner led the Fighting Owls with two goals and goalkeeper Barret Casto made 11 saves, but the No. 5 Harford men's lacrosse team dropped their opening contest to No. 2 Nassau, 11-6, at Tierney Field inside the U.S. Lacrosse Headquarters.

Casto (0-1) put in a strong performance between the pipes for the Fighting Owls in his Harford debut. His six first quarter saves allowed the men in blue to get out in front 2-0 to start the game.

The Lions came roaring back in the second, claiming six of the next seven goals to take a 6-3 lead. Harford saved face with a pair of late scores by Chandler Schmidt and Wagoner, making it 6-5 after 30 minutes of play.

Nassau made a change in net to start the second, benching sophomore returner Gunnar Luckoski for Anthony Kennin. Kennin and the Lion defense was the story of the final two quarters, forcing 14 turnovers while limiting Harford's offense to just one goal late in the third. Five different players scored for Nassau during the same stretch, bookended by Tanner Germain's second and third goals of the game.

Harford drops to 0-1 on the year, while Nassau improves to 1-0 with the win.

Games Notes

• Reece Wiseman, Grady Dipeso, Max Krieger and Chandler Schmidt each scored once in the loss.
• Wiseman led the team with nine shots.
• Freshman Alex Wroe and sophomore Shaun Vines topped Harford with three ground balls.
• Led by Tyler Klein (8-9), Harford won 10 faces offs compared to Nassau's seven.
• Justin Roderka (4), Tanner Germain (3) and Robbie Connors (3) did most of the work on offense for the Lions.

Up Next
Things will not get any easier for Harford when they travel to Syracuse on Saturday, March 2 to face defending NJCAA champion Onondaga.

The Lazers have won the last two NJCAA titles, and 11 in the last 13 seasons. Only Nassau (21) has won more in the history of the NJCAA.