MADISON, N.J. (Mar. 6, 2016) - The Drew University men's lacrosse team opened its season in non-conference action against Swarthmore College, falling 8-5 on Wednesday night at Ranger Stadium.
 
Freshman attacker Ryan D'Alessandro netted the first two goals of his career in his debut, also assisting on one and collecting four ground balls. Sophomore attacker Devin Lyons registered the first goal of the year and grabbed a team-high five grounders. Senior midfielder Steven Cola scored and assisted once on seven shots. Senior attacker Ben Ludeman also scored and assisted.
 
Lyons christened the 2016 campaign with a goal. After a few layering passes as Rangers relayed past each other, working closer to the net, Lyons looped around the arc before quick-stepping forward and whipping home a laser to get the Rangers (0-1) started with a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game.
 
For the remainder of the first quarter, the teams cleared effectively and strict defense, plugging up holes on either end. Swarthmore (3-0), to compensate, had their wing trot outside and from a deep angle, slung in an equalizing goal in the top left corner.
 
On the opening possession of the second quarter, two of Drew's top scorers of 2015 linked up for the go-ahead score, capitalizing on the man advantage. Cola and Ludeman charged down the turf with speed, with Cola flanking the ball handler Ludeman. Cola cut wide and lost his man as Ludeman flicked it across the net mouth. Cola, poised like a coiled spring, one-time tapped the goal in just ten seconds into the quarter to earn a 2-1 lead.
 
Following the Drew goal, the Garnet scored twice. Once on a straightaway drive and again on a sharp wrap-around to take a 3-2 lead with six minutes to play in the first half. Three minutes later the Garnet added one more on the mad advantage to take a 4-2 lead. Another conversion at the two-minute mark ended the 4-0 run and half.
 
As the second ticked down, sophomore long stick midfielder Greg Swenson threw a vicious check on the half line that fired up the Ranger bench and give Drew some positive momentum going into the final 30.
 
Sure enough the first goal of the second half belonged to Drew. D'Alessandro weaved in and out of trouble out in front of the net. He used a serious of cuts and pivots while protecting the ball. He swayed back and forth before finally driving inside, deking, and firing as he fell. The good goal narrowed the deficit to 5-3 with 12 minutes to go.
 
Three minutes later, D'Alessandro struck again. Cola was inside working before he ripped one right to the post that D'Alessando hugged, waiting. He snatched it and deposited it on the right post for his second career goal, just three minutes after his first.
 
D'Alessandro still wasn't finished, with eight minutes to go in third quarter, he wiggled into the zone after a promising and threatening attack from the Rangers. A quick flip to Ludeman tied the game and the attacker ripped in the equalizer. The teams would remained deadlocked until late in the final period where Swarthmore would net the last three goals of the game, securing the win.

With its first game under its belt, Drew is set to ship cross-country for its next two games. The first of a three-game road trip takes place in Memphis, TN against Rhodes College on Sunday, Mar 6 at 3:00 p.m.