The Misericordia University men's lacrosse team dropped a hard-fought 11-9 decision to Swarthmore, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.
 
Lane Kocovsky led the Cougars with three goals and an assist while Kyle Reese added three goals.  Chris Fleming had two goals and two assists and James Pedersen added a goal.
 
Josh Shanker made nine saves in goal and Ryan cannon had a team-high six ground balls.  Andrew Phillips, Steve Dallicardillo and Fleming all had three ground balls.
 
Down 8-4 early in the third quarter, the Cougars used a 5-1 run to pull even midway through the fourth period.
 
Kocovsky placed a shot in the upper right corner and then found Kyle Reese for a man-up goal with 8:50 left in the third.
 
Fleming scooped up a ground ball near the right post off a missed shot and stuffed it behind the goalie to get within 8-7 with 7:09 to go in the third.
 
After Swarthmore scored early in the fourth period, Fleming drove the right end line and bounced a shot in less than a minute later.
 
Reese took a pass from Fleming and charged down the right side before whipping a low shot to the score, 9-9, with 7:13 to play.
 
Swarthmore went back in front with 4:30 to go and added an empty-net goal in the closing seconds.
 
Pedersen gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead with a goal from the top left of the circle just a minute into the game.
 
Swarthmore answered four minutes later and the score held for the remainder of the opening quarter.
 
Shanker made a big save in a man-down situation early in the second and Reese bounced home a shot at the other end for a 2-1 lead with 13:10 left in the second quarter.
 
Swarthmore scored five straight goals to take a 6-2 lead late in the second quarter.
 
Cannon made a nice pass through the crease to Kocovsky near the left post where he placed a shot back through the crease to cut the margin to 6-3 at halftime.
 
Misericordia is 5-3 and will open MAC Freedom play, Saturday at Manhattanville.