BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Immaculata University men's lacrosse team battled back from an early deficit to tie Moravian at halftime Thursday, but three quick goals coming out of the intermission ultimately downed the Macs on the road, 12-10.

Mike Reardon netted five goals in the effort while fellow senior Brian Shultis provided his third hat trick of the season en route to a seven-point day. Reardon now has 11 goals and fourteen points over his last two games.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Thursday's non-conference tilt was a very one-sided affair in the early going, as Moravian started off with three goals in the final six minutes of the first quarter to gain the advantage. Ethan Johnson halted the Greyhounds' momentum with the Macs' first goal of the game with a minute left in the opening period to cut the deficit to two after one.
-Johnson's goal sparked an IU rally, as Mike Reardon netted his first of five goals on the day three minutes into the second quarter, before Brian Shultis provided a man-up tally mere moments later to tie the game at three.
-The Greyhounds struck back to regain the lead at the 7:15 mark, but Reardon and Shultus responded with their second set of back-to-back goals to give IU its first lead of the game at 5-4. Moravian's James Carroll scored his second goal of the game with seven seconds left in the half to tie it at five heading into the break.
-Moravian came out of halftime on a mission, netting three goals in the first five minutes to take an 8-5 lead. Reardon and Christian Fisher answered back for the Macs with tallies within 25 seconds of each other, but a fourth Greyhound goal in the period gave the hosts a two-goal advantage heading into the final quarter.
-The two sides alternated goals in the fourth - totaling three on each side - as the Macs could not quite complete the comeback late, falling 12-10. Reardon provided two goals in the fourth and Shultis netted his second man-up goal in the quarter to get IU within one at the time.

TEAM COMPARISON
-The Macs were narrowly outshot by Moravian, 32-31, but IU held the advantage in shots on goal, 19-17.
-IU forced the hosts into 17 turnovers while only committing 12 of its own.
-Immaculata was successful on 14-of-19 clear attempts. Moravian was 14-of-17.
-Moravian controlled the ground ball battle, 40-31.
-The Macs were 2-for-6 on their extra man opportunities and blanked the Greyhounds on their four chances.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
-Goals: Reardon 5, Shultis 3, Fisher  and Johnson
-Assists: Shultis 4, Three others with 1
-Points: Shultis 7, Reardon 6, Johnson 2
-Ground Balls: Shultis and Black 6, Three others with 4

UP NEXT
-Immaculata (2-6) turns its attention to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) opener Saturday against Marywood at 1 p.m. from Draper Walsh Stadium.