MADISON, N.J. – Senior Mike DeMayo posted a career-high 10 points on six goals and four assists, but Neumann University scored the game-winning goal with 9.8 seconds left and the Knights edged the Drew University men's lacrosse team 15-14 in a thrilling season opener Wednesday afternoon at a frigid Ranger Stadium.
 
DeMayo's 10 points tied him for sixth on Drew's all-time single-game list. In addition, his six goals were a career-high while his four assists tied a career-best.
 
Senior Matt Giordano added four goals and an assist for the Rangers while sophomore Jake Rainero enjoyed a big performance in his collegiate debut, finishing 22-for-31 on faceoffs while picking up 12 ground balls. Junior Riley Zeer added two goals for Drew, which erased an early 5-1 deficit.
 
In goal, sophomore Joe Barnish played the final 36 minutes for Drew and collected six saves after junior Sawyer Kennedy started and played the first 24 minutes.
 
Brendan Boschi registered seven goals – including the game-winner – and three assists for Neumann (1-1) while Owen Avelar made 16 saves for the Knights.

Neumann led 4-1 at the end of the first quarter before the Rangers climbed back into it, edging the Knights 4-3 in the second quarter. Giordano scored three of his goals in the opening half.
 
After trailing 7-5 at halftime, the Rangers outscored Neumann 5-1 in the third quarter, and Zeer gave the Rangers their first lead of the game at 9-8 with 1:51 left in the period. Senior Tommy Larmore followed up with 46 ticks showing to make it 10-8, setting the stage for an action-packed fourth quarter that featured a combined 11 goals.
 
Boschi started the final period with consecutive goals to make it 10-10. The Rangers went ahead 11-10 on a goal from junior Colin Diodato, then struck eight seconds later when Rainero won the faceoff before feeding DeMayo to make it 12-10 with 10:40 remaining.
 
Giordano's final tally handed Drew a 13-11 lead with 8:40 left, but Neumann ended the game on a 4-1 run. DeMayo gave the Rangers their final lead (14-13) with 1:13 left before the Knights won the ensuing faceoff and tied it with 44 ticks showing. Neumann then won a second straight faceoff, setting up Boschi's game-winner.
 
The Rangers return home on Saturday, when they host Marywood University at 1 p.m. in another non-conference outing.