Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Mar. 29, 2017 - Despite threatening to level the score with a strong fourth-quarter performance, the North Central College men's lacrosse team saw its season-opening seven-game winning streak come to a close on Wednesday, as the Cardinals lost a 9-7 decision to the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

North Central (7-1) scored three unanswered goals in the fourth period, outshooting the Falcons, 12-4, over the final 15 minutes. Concordia, which came within one game of advancing to the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship last season, led for most of the contest after scoring three straight goals early in the second quarter.

After playing to a 1-1 stalemate after one quarter, the Cardinals took advantage of a man-up situation and moved in front, 2-1, following Noah Parrill's goal with 13:24 left in the second period. Concordia (5-4), however, put up three goals in a four-minute span to negate the advantage. North Central narrowed the gap to 5-3 with just 17 seconds before halftime, as Parrill assisted Ethan Hurst on a goal, but the Falcons' Ethan Danz scored just before the period ended to send the visitors into halftime with a 6-3 edge.

Concordia extended its lead in the third quarter, finding the net four times, while the Cardinals' lone goal in the period came from Danny Boyle. Hurst started North Central's comeback effort in the fourth period by scoring off an assist by Tanner James with 7:38 to play, and Jared Weaver tacked on two straight goals in the final 3:02 before the Falcons managed to run out the clock.

Hurst finished with three goals, while John Fitzgerald recorded a team-best five ground balls and Ross Hixson recorded seven saves in goal for the Cardinals. 

North Central hosts Northland College (2-6) on Saturday. Play is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.