After opening the season with two dominating performances, the Tompkins Cortland Community College men's lacrosse team met its match on Sunday, dropping a road loss to Monroe Community College, 12-6. The Panthers are now 2-1 overall and in Region 3; Monroe, a perennial Region 3 playoff team, improves to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in Region 3 games.

The teams were close throughout the first half, with Monroe holding a one-goal advantage each quarter to take a 6-4 lead into halftime. When Ben Miller (Owego/Owego Free Academy) found the goal early the third quarter, the Panthers were within a goal at 6-5. After Monroe responded with two straight to lead 8-5, another goal from Miller just into the fourth quarter made it 8-6 before the Panthers ran out of steam. The Tribunes put the game away in the fourth, sending the Panthers to defeat for the first time this year.    

Miller posted his third hat trick of the season with three goals. Tosh Marshall (Sylvan Lake, Alberta/H.J. Cody H.S.) had two goals and an assist. Matthew Salerno (Campbell Hill/Goshen H.S.) added a goal and Brett Willcox (Ithaca/Ithaca H.S.) picked up an assist

Goalie Declan Fullerton (Westchester/Walter Panas H.S.) was solid in goal, posting a career-high 29 saves.

Looking ahead

The Panthers play at Finger Lakes Community College on Wednesday.