FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The University of Northwestern St. Paul Men's Lacrosse team took on Marian University in their season opener on Wednesday. The Eagles fell to the Sabres 16-14.

The Eagles struck first just 38 seconds into the match as Mat Anderson (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville) scored the first goal of the season for Northwestern in an unassisted effort.

With four minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Sabres scored to even it at 1-1. Each team proceeded to score once more in the quarter, with Keller Stephens (Lino Lakes, Minn./Mounds View) scoring for the Eagles, to send the game to the second tied at 2-2.

Both teams were once again evenly matched in the second quarter. Marian went on a 4-0 run to grab a 6-2 lead, but Northwestern answered with three goals of their own. Chase Marlenee (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) found the net with 4:32 remaining in the half, and then Noah Vander Kooi (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) followed with another Eagle goal. Marlenee scored his second shortly afterwards to cut the Sabre lead to one goal at 6-5.

Marian scored once again to go up 7-5, but the Eagles scored two more off the sticks of Keller Stephens (Lino Lakes, Minn./Mounds View) and Marlenne again, who notched his first hat trick of the season. The contest went to halftime with the score all tied up at 7-7.

In the third the Sabres found their footing and swung the game in their favor. Marian scored five unanswered goals in the third quarter to go up 12-7.

Undeterred, the Eagles responded in the fourth quarter with two consecutive goals by Stephens to cut the deficit to 12-9. However, the Sabres scored two more of their own to match.

Down 14-9, the Eagles went on a late run with four straight goals to make it a one goal game with 7:01 remaining. Stephens scored his fifth of the night, then Joseph Will (Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake) found the net, Vander Kooi proceeded to score 30 seconds later, and Marlenee scored his fourth of the night to cap off the offensive explosion.

Unfortunately, the Sabres found the net twice more to go up 16-13 with 2:03 remaining. Stephens would score once more to bring his game total up to six, but the Eagles would fall 16-14.

Christoph Tisdale (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) saved 10 shots on goal in the contest for the Eagles.

Next up for Northwestern is a trip to Augustana College in Illinois to compete on March 3 at 3pm.