SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Marietta College men's lacrosse team took to the road and battled a very tough Wittenberg University squad and lost 12-9 Saturday (Mar. 15) afternoon.  With the loss, the Pioneers fell to 5-2 overall and with the win the Tigers improve to 3-2 overall.  

The Pioneers struck first in the opening period as they got a goal from Logan Podgorski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bethel Park) to take a 1-0 lead.  The Tigers answered quickly with score on the following possession and then took the lead six minutes later with a goal from Ethan Pac.  Chase Franklin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) tied it up at 4:39 mark but Wittenberg tacked on another score inside two minutes remaining and led 3-2 going into the second period. 
 
Wittenberg got a pair of scores from Dillon McKeigue in rapid fashion to push the lead to three in the second period.  The Pioneers were shut down for much of the period but Nathan Hamilton (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) got a score in the closing minutes to cut the Tiger lead to 5-3 going into intermission.
 
The Pioneers fell a bit further behind as the Tigers got a quick goal from Pac to begin the third quarter. Nate Neal (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) and Aiden Evans (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) got the Pioneers rolling with a score apiece and, later in the period, Marietta actually tied up the contest at seven as Franklin and Neal added scores.  Wittenberg untied it inside three minutes as Travis Demsher added a score. The Pioneers entered the fourth quarter with a slim 8-7 deficit.  
 
The Tiger put up two quick scores in the fourth and the Pioneers could not overcome the difference.  Franklin and Podgorski added goals but it would not be enough and the Pioneers fell to the Tigers, 12-9.
 
James Cipollone (Forest Hill, Md./Calvert Hall) got the start for the Pioneers and faced 24 shots on goal and had 13 saves.

Franklin led the Pioneers with three goals.  Neal scored two goals and went 5-of-15 in faceoffs.  Podgorski finished with a pair of scores.  Josh Walters (Cleves, Ohio/Taylor) assisted on two scores.  Caden Alkire (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) and Barrett Lindell (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont) led the defensive effort with three caused turnovers apiece.

Marietta will return to the field Saturday (Mar. 22) when they begin the OAC part of their schedule.  They will travel to battle John Carroll University, with the game scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Fans can follow all of the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.