MADISON, N.J. – Senior Craig Wilkie scored five goals in his final appearance in Ranger Stadium as the Drew University men's lacrosse team lost by a final of 20-11 to Landmark Conference co-leader Catholic University on Saturday afternoon.
 
Following the conclusion of the game, Drew held a ceremony to recognize its five seniors – Aidan Duffy, Yoel Ovadya, Branden Walsh, Kyle Weeks, and Wilkie.
 
The game was interrupted by a pair of lightning delays totaling approximately an hour and a half early in the second half.
 
Wilkie posted his third-highest scoring output of the season while reaching five goals in a game for the eighth time in his career. He is currently eighth all-time at Drew in goals scored with 122.
 
Sophomore Mike DeMayo added two goals and two assists for the Rangers while junior Brett Spafford scored a pair of goals. Fifth-year Jack Tynan turned in a big defensive performance with seven ground balls and career-high-tying five caused turnovers while freshman Matt Duarte made 13 saves over the opening 47 minutes. Junior GJ Nazziola won 15-of-32 faceoffs while picking up six ground balls.
 
Victor Rosado led Catholic (6-6, 5-0 LC) with five goals and seven assists while Fitz McLaughlin also scored five goals. Nic Pezone made 22 saves for the Cardinals.
 
Catholic jumped to a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, then added three more tallies in the second quarter to take an early 7-0 advantage. The Rangers answered with two of the next three goals, however, to make it an 8-2 game at the half. Junior Alex Higgins finished off pass from DeMayo to put Drew on the scoreboard with 5:59 left in the period before Spafford netted the final tally of the stanza.
 
After the Cardinals scored the first goal of the second half, the Rangers answered when freshman Ian Curley took a pass from junior Jordan Wilson and converted in transition to make it 9-3. After the goal, play was halted to allow the lightning to pass.
 
Rain began to pick up as play resumed, and Catholic used a 4-1 run to open up a 13-4 advantage. Wilkie netted his first goal of the game during the stretch, striking quickly following a faceoff on a pass from freshman Ethan Steinbiss.
 
After Catholic's run, the Rangers put together a 3-1 surge of their own to make it 14-7 heading into the final period. DeMayo scored off a feed from freshman Jake Cornelius, then set up Spafford's second goal. Wilkie found paydirt again with five seconds left in quarter.
 
The Cardinals pulled away at the start of the fourth quarter, scoring the first four goals. Drew would not go away, however, and ended the game on a 4-2 run over the final six minutes. Wilkie scored three of the team's goals during the surge, with one coming off another Steinbiss assists, while DeMayo also scored again.
 
The Rangers are back in action next Saturday, when they visit Elizabethtown College, the other Landmark Conference co-leader, starting at 1 p.m.