Marshall, MO – The eighth-ranked UC men's lacrosse team overcame a two goal fourth-quarter deficit to defeat (RV) Missouri Valley 9-8 Wednesday night.  With the win the Patriots improve to 5-3, while the Vikings fall to 0-3.

Missouri Valley struck first as Carson Brezinski found Ryan Barnes for a goal eight minutes into the first quarter.  The score remained that way until just under a minute as Justin Darley scored an unassisted goal to even the game at 1-1.

Cumberlands carried the momentum into the second quarter as Whitten McCune put a well-placed shot into the back of the cage to give UC a 2-1 lead.  Just over a minute later Sam Collinson found Dylan Crouch in front of the cage for a goal to make it 3-1 with 8:05 remaining.  Collinson and Henry Quaye recorded back-to-back goals, over a six minute span, to extend the lead to 5-1.  The Vikings battled back though as Ryan Barnes netted a goal in the final minute of the half to cut the lead to 5-2.  

Missouri Valley came out of the break and dominated the third quarter scoring five unanswered goals to take a 7-5 lead.  Cumberlands fought back in the fourth quarter led by Collinson, who scored a goal at the 8:16 mark to cut the deficit to 7-6.  UC took advantage of a Missouri Valley two-minute locked in penalty as McCune score a pair of man-up goals, 28 seconds apart, to put the Patriots back in front 8-7.  Missouri Valley even the score before Nick DiFranco scooped a groundball off a Vikings failed clear. On the ensuing possession Darley found McCune cutting towards to cage for the go-ahead goal with 2:30 remaining. Kody Swann won the faceoff, one of his 13 wins on the day, to help UC run out the clock for the 9-8 final.

McCune led the way for the Patriots with four goals, while Collinson recorded two goals and two assists. Darley chipped in three points, while Crouch tallied a goal and an assist. Will Settle made 11 saves en route to his fourth win of the season.

The Patriots will return to the field Friday, March 16, when they travel to Atchison, KS to take on Benedictine.  The game is set for 8 p.m. with live video available here.

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