Wheeling, WV -- On Wednesday afternoon The Malone University Men's Lacrosse team traveled to Wheeling, West Virginia to take on the Wheeling University Cardinals in a ferocious conference match up. The Pioneers ultimately dropped the shootout via a 21-20 final. 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Final Score: Malone University Pioneers 20 - Wheeling University Cardinals 21
• Records: Malone (8-6, 4-2 G-MAC) | Wheeling (5-7, 3-4 G-MAC)
• Location: Wheeling, WV

THE GAME
The Pioneers stumbled out the gate as the Cardinals opened the game with four goals in four minutes. Zac Smargiasso took a feed from Nolan Winter to get Malone on the board but Wheeling rattled off two more to extend their lead to five. Ramsey Burnard reignited his connection with Smargiasso as Burnard scored twice on Smargiasso passes to put Malone down three at the end the first quarter.

The Cardinals scored yet again to open up the second quarter but then Malone erupted. Luke Ory picked a ground ball following a Cardinal save and fired home his first goal of the day. Smargiasso followed suit as took a pass from Talon Heath and rifled it home. Ory caught a missed shot from Heath just outside of the crease and hit paydirt to cut the deficit to one. The Cardinals scored to end the Pioneer run but then Malone picked it right back up. Ory scored again and then he was followed by Heath who took an Eli Ciotti feed and tied the game. Heath, Smargiasso, Burnard, and Kenny Kaiser all ripped twine over the next several minutes to give Malone a four goal lead. While Ory would score once more to close out the Pioneer scoring in the first half, a slew of penalties down the stretch allowed the Cardinals to score three goals in as many minutes to cut the deficit to 11-13 in favor of the Pioneers heading into the half. 

Wheeling opened the third quarter by possessing the ball for nearly ten straight minutes and scoring four goals to take a 15-13 lead. Smargiasso broke the drought and Kaiser followed suit to tie things back up at 15 a piece. Heath split the defense and gave Malone a one goal lead. Ciotti took a sweet feed from Ory and rattled home an emphatic goal. The Cardinals cut it to one but with mere seconds remaining, Ciotti returned the favor and dished out an electric ball to Ory who beat the keeper on a highlight reel play. 

Looking to defend a two goal lead, the Pioneers came out looking to secure another conference win. The Cardinals had other ideas as they quickly took a 20-18 lead following four straight goals. With minutes remaining, Kaiser and Smargiasso managed to tie things up. The Pioneers had a chance to win it but a controversial crease violation was called on Winter who appeared to score the go ahead goal after swiping the ball from the Cardinal keeper. Amongst the chaos the referee quickly blew the whistle to resume play and Wheeling had a wide open attacker at midfield who eventually fired home the decisive goal. Ultimately Malone fell, 21-20. 

DETAILS

• Talon Heath led the way with 3 goals and 6 assists to finish with 9 points. Luke Ory and Zac Smargiasso followed suit with 5 goals and 2 assists a piece. 
• Kamden Kraft dominated, winning 28 of 41 faceoff opportunities. 
• Kraft scooped up a game-high 13 ground balls, he was followed by Eion Juhas with 7, and Ory, Smargiasso, and Brice Christmas who each had 6. 
• Phillip Bell finished with 18 saves

WHAT'S NEXT
The Pioneers stay at home as they host the Seton Hill University Griffins on Saturday, April 6th at 1:00 P.M. 

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Malone University athletic programs this year follow the Pioneers on Twitter and Instagram, like Malone University Athletics on Facebook or visit www.malonepioneers.com.