MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University men's lacrosse team erased a four-goal second-half deficit, but FDU-Florham broke open a tie game with three goals in the last five minutes and the host Devils topped the Rangers 12-9 in a non-conference matchup between the two local rivals Saturday afternoon.
 
Drew (2-2) held a 44-33 shot advantage, but Dalton Povilaits made 13 saves for FDU (3-1).
 
Seven different players scored a goal for the Rangers to lead a balanced offense. Sophomore Charlie Collins posted two goals and one assist, junior Brett Spafford scored twice, and senior Craig Wilkie notched one goal and two assists.
 
Junior GJ Nazziola finished 14-for-23 on faceoffs while picking up six ground balls for the Rangers while sophomore Mike DeMayo contributed six ground balls.
 
Once again, a pair of Rangers split the time in goal. Freshman Matt Duarte started in net and made three saves in the opening half while classmate Sawyer Kennedy stopped one shot while playing the second stanza.
 
Joseph Misurelli paced the Devils offensively with three goals and two assists.
 
FDU never trailed after scoring four straight goals over the first eight minutes. Drew scored two of the final three goals in the opening quarter, with Collins and DeMayo each finding the back of the net with a pair of man-up goals, to make it 5-2 at the end of the first period.
 
Neither side would score in a defensive-minded second quarter until the Devils pushed their lead to 6-2 with 4:16 on the clock. But Collins answered just over a minute later to make it a three-goal game at the half.
 
FDU scored the first goal of the second half, but that's when Drew reeled off three straight goals to make it a one-goal game. Junior Kellum Foster-Palmer got things started with a man-down goal before classmate Alex Higgins and Wilkie each cashed in and the Devils led just 7-6 with 7:42 on the third-quarter clock.
 
The hosts scored two of the last three goals in the period to take a 9-7 lead heading into the final quarter. Freshman Ian Curley scored with 2:13 showing for the Rangers.
 
Spafford struck for both of his goals over a 1:04 stretch early in the fourth quarter as Drew pulled even with 12:58 to go. But the two sides engaged in another defensive standstill for the majority of the fourth quarter, with neither side scoring over an 8:22 span. Michael Stewart broke the drought for FDU with what held up as the game-winning goal with 4:36 left before the Devils tacked on a pair of insurance goals over a 32-second span in the closing minutes.
 
The Rangers return to action on Wednesday, when they host Purchase College at 7 p.m. in another non-conference match-up.