WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College men's lacrosse team stuck with Methodist throughout a high-scoring first quarter but faltered the rest of the way as the Presidents fell to the Monarchs 15-8.
 
W&J falls to 1-4 on the season while Methodist picked up its second win in as many days to move to 5-3.
 
Methodist jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the game's first five minutes with Pat Moeller's (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) tally was the lone Presidents goal in the opening flurry.
 
The Presidents worked back into the game, keeping Methodist off the scoreboard for nearly 10 minutes and chipping away at the lead. Alex Strain (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) was assisted by Brendan Tribeck (Enola, Pa./Trinity) on back-to-back goals with 8:27 and 5:47 to play in the quarter.
 
Pat Brunner (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) tied the contest at four by finding the back of the net with 4:12 left in the frame.
 
The Monarchs re-took the lead for good with Bryce Kephart's man-up goal with nine second left in the quarter.
 
Methodist outscored W&J 6-2 over the second and third quarters as Tribeck and Strain each added one goal.
 
The Monarchs extended their lead to 13-6 with 11:19 to play in regulation but Moeller and Strain added goals in the final period to bring the final tally to 15-8.
 
At the X, Nicholas Grosch (Sarasota, Fla./Butler) turned in his best effort of the season, winning 13-of-25 faceoffs and nabbing six ground balls.
 
Strain finished with four goals, an assist, three ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.
 
Moeller scored twice and Brunner and Tribeck each totaled three points on one goal and two assists apiece.
 
The game's team stats indicated a relatively even contest as the Presidents outshot Methodist 38-37 (24-23 SOG). W&J was one-up in faceoffs (13-12) but Methodist held a slim edge in ground balls (31-29).
 
Methodist was three-of-eight on man-up chances while the Presidents converted two-of-four.
 
The Monarchs had three players with five points and MU goalkeeper Clay Stevenson made 16 saves.
 
W&J hosts Mount Union Saturday at 1:00 p.m.