Yeager, Bechler Lead Eagles in Season Opener Against Green Terror

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's lacrosse team battled heroically but lost a tight game to open the season against visiting McDaniel College, 11-9, on Wednesday evening at Gibbel Stadium. 

Brayden Yeager had a goal, four assists, two ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Sterling Bechler totaled four goals, six ground balls, and a caused turnover, while Jahmir Barber, Isaac Zielinski, Zane Kromer, and Max Young each scored once. Noah Harrison was a force at faceoff, going 15-19 along with seven ground balls and an assist. Griffin Umstead made 14 saves in goal for the Eagles. 

The Green Terror opened the scoring with two goals a minute and a half apart in the first three minutes of the game. They added a third six minutes later as JC found themselves in an early hole. JC rebounded as Barber took the ball the length of the field and scored for the first Eagle goal of the season. Yeager added his first collegiate goal a minute later. 

The second quarter was scoreless for the first nine minutes, before the Green Terror added two more with just over two minutes to go to push their lead back to three. Bechler ripped a shot past the keeper in the final seconds of the half to bring JC back within two. 

JC came flying out to start the third, as Harrison won the opening faceoff and dished it to Kromer, who punched home his first collegiate goal. Bechler added two more, with the second assisted by Yeager, as Juniata took their first lead of the game, 6-5, with over 12 minutes remaining in the third. The visitors responded with three straight goals over the next eight minutes, before the Yeager to Bechler connection ended the run and put JC back within one. The Green Terror scored once more as JC trailed by two heading into the final quarter. 

Young and Zielinski each netted their first career goal for the Eagles around a Green Terror goal, as Juniata trailed by one, 10-9, with just under eight to play. The Eagles had a few shots, but none of them found the mark. Juniata was looking to force a turnover in the final minute of play, and McDaniel scored the game's final goal to complete the scoring. 

Juniata will travel to play Penn College next Wednesday at 7:00.