HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College men's lacrosse team dropped a 7-6 decision Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at Juniata College. 

The loss drops the Presidents to 3-5 overall while the Eagles improve to 3-5 with the win. 

A strong second quarter for the Eagles was ultimately the difference in the game. Both teams tallied just one goal in the opening quarter of play. Parker Lucas (Delmar, Del./Delmar) got the Presidents on the board at the 26 second mark of the first frame. The two teams alternated the first four goals of the second quarter. A goal by Carter Watts (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) evened the score at 3-3 with 3:59 to play in the second. However, the Eagles tallied the final two goals of the quarter to take a 5-3 lead into halftime. 

The Eagles turned that momentum into a four-goal lead early in the third quarter. Juniata recorded a pair of goals within a 13-second span to move the lead to 7-3 at the 9:43 mark. W&J played well over the final 25 minutes to give itself a chance at a comeback victory. The Presidents stifled the Eagles offense, as they shut out the hosts for the final nine-plus minutes of the third quarter. Paul Shook () scored at the 7:47 mark of the third to cut the deficit to 7-4 after three quarters. 

W&J scored both goals in the fourth quarter. Sean McCaffrey (Silver Spring, Md./Albert Einstein) scored off a pass from Zach Mey (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) at the 3:33 mark and Shook scored off a pass from McCaffrey with just 50 seconds left. W&J won the face-off with 47 seconds left but a turnover virtually ended a chance to tie the score as Juniata ran out the clock. 

Noah Bracco (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) recorded 18 saves and six ground balls in 60 minutes of work in net. Ronin Keane (Medford, Mass./Arlington Catholic) had a team-best eight ground balls while James Deiulliis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) finished with six caused turnovers and five ground balls. Shook paced the offense with a pair of goals. 

Juniata used a decisive 15-2 edge in face-off wins. The Eagles had a narrow 40-38 edge in ground balls and a 52-32 advantage in shots. 

W&J returns to action on Tuesday, March 21 when they travel to Bethany College for its Presidents' Athletic Conference opener at 6 p.m.