via FSC press release   LAKELAND, FL – Florida Southern College men’s lacrosse got out to an early lead but was unable to stave off a strong effort by visiting Wingate in a 9-5 loss on Tuesday afternoon at Moccasin Field. The Moccasins (2-2) got on the board first and led by a goal toward the beginning of the second quarter, but the Bulldogs (2-3) scored four unanswered goals to close out the first half en route to the win. Mike Greco had a strong showing in goal with 15 saves, but Florida Southern was unable to match Wingate on offense as the Bulldogs ripped off 41 total shots. The Mocs were also unable to make the most of their extra-man opportunities, going 0-for-6 when the Bulldogs had a man on the sideline with a penalty. Florida Southern returns to action this weekend with games at Saint Rose (March 9) and No. 2 Le Moyne (March 11). HOW IT HAPPENED • Kyle Silverstein gave Florida Southern the first shot of momentum by scoring the game’s first goal with 8:25 to go in the first quarter. Justin Dunleavy tallied the assist on the goal and would score his own goal later on. The Moccasin defense was strong throughout most of the first quarter, but Wingate finally found a crack in the armor and scored with just 23 seconds to go in the first to tie things at 1-1. • After Joe Appio scored to put the Mocs up one (2-1) in the first three minutes of the second quarter, the Bulldogs opened the floodgates with four-straight goals. Wingate was able to tie things up at 2-2 with just over 11 minutes to play in the opening half and took the lead for good with 7:04 on the clock. Wingate added a key goal with just two ticks left in the opening half to make it 5-2 at the break. • Florida Southern pulled within two when Nick Gutmann scored in the opening minute of the third quarter, but the Bulldogs went on a 3-0 run over the next three minutes to jump out to an 8-3 lead. Lucas Claude found the back of the net just before the third-quarter horn and Dunleavy’s goal to open the fourth made it 8-5, but it was all the closer the Mocs could get as Wingate scored with 1:26 left to tack on an insurance goal and make it a 9-5 final. • The Bulldogs outshot Florida Southern 41-23, including 26-9 un the first half, and picked up 28 ground balls to FSC’s 23. Neither team scored on a man-up opportunity, finishing a combined 0-for-8 with a man advantage. Both squads completed 16 clear attempts, and the Mocs committed just one more turnover (16) than the Bulldogs (15). Florida Southern fell to 4-5 all-time against the Bulldogs, including a 1-4 mark when facing Wingate at home. UP NEXT • The Moccasins head to New York to take on Saint Rose (March 9) and No. 2 Le Moyne (March 11). Florida Southern is home against Colorado Mesa on March 17 at 11:30 a.m. (NOTE TIME CHANGE), and opens Sunshine State Conference action on March 24 at home against Palm Beach Atlantic.