MANHASSET, N.Y. - Haverford College's men's lacrosse team scored the final three goals of the game but weren't able to complete their rally Saturday afternoon at Ed Walsh Field, falling 9-7 to Plattsburgh State in a non-conference, neutral-site contest hosted by Manhasset High School.
Chris Christensen and Tav Hafner led the Haverford (1-4) attack with two goals apiece while Plattsburgh (5-1) was led by Robbie Ashlow's game-high three goals.
The Fords out scored the Cardinals by a count of 5-2 over the last two periods and five minutes but Plattsburgh's two goals in the middle of Haverford's rally proved to be their most important, despite breaking out to a 7-2 lead by the midpoint of the second quarter.
The opening goal of the game came from Christensen whose sixth of the year was an unassisted marker three minutes in.
Plattsburgh notched three unanswered goals over a span of a little more than three minutes before Christensen added his second of the day, breaking the run by the Cardinals and pulling the Fords back within a goal at 3-2 when the first quarter ended.
Four consecutive goals from Plattsburgh in the second pushed the Cardinals' lead to 7-2, a lead that looked safe before Haverford began its rally.
Geoff Geppert and Christian Clay found the back netting of the cage in the final minutes of the second but Ashlaw scored in the final minute to allow Plattsburgh to carry an 8-4 lead into the intermission.
The Cardinals extended their lead with the only goal of the third period but the fourth belonged to the Fords as they out shot Plattsburgh by a count of 15-6.
Hafner scored, off an assist from Jack Bodine, 90 seconds into the fourth to inch Haverford closer and then it was Bodine's turn as his score, on an assist from Clay, a minute later cut the deficit to three.
A fast-break transition goal from Hafner with 3:33 to play brought the Fords within two, 9-7, but there simply wasn't enough time as the clock ran out before the come back could be completed.
Haverford goalie Eric Caliendo finished the game with 14 saves in the loss while Andrew Hauk earned the win in the cage for Plattsburgh after coming up with 13 saves.
Next up for the Fords is a non-conference match-up Tuesday at home on Swan Field against Trinity (Conn.) College.