The Oglethorpe men's lacrosse team played shorthanded again Wednesday night at the Oglethorpe Track and Field, fielding a team of just 11 players, and hung in all game against Piedmont. However, the Stormy Petrels didn't quite have enough to get over the hump, falling 8-4 in the end. The result dropped the Petrels to 0-4 on the season.

The Petrels trailed 5-2 going into the second half of play. After what had been a scoreless third quarter to that point, the Lions tallied a goal with 1:45 remaining in the period to pull four goals ahead. Oglethorpe freshman defender Andrew Kwapil answered back, though, burying a shot off a pass from freshman midfielder Tyler Stridiron with 41 seconds left in the quarter and pulling back to within three, 6-3. In the fourth quarter, though, the Lions put the game away late, despite excellent defense from the Petrels for most of the period, with a pair of goals, taking an 8-3 lead with 2:32 to go. Oglethorpe got a goal back from freshman midfielder Thomas O'Berry 48 seconds left, but it was too late at that point.

After Oglethorpe fell behind 1-0 early in the opening quarter, Stridiron answered back with a goal to make it 1-1 with 8:43 left in the period. Piedmont answered with a couple more, including a man-up goal late in the period, then scored again to begin the second. However, freshman midfielder Nathaniel Gillespie answered back for the home team to make it 4-2. The Lions finished the first half with a goal to make it 5-2.

Stridiron finished with a goal and a pair of assists, putting four of his seven shots on target. He also scooped seven ground balls and caused three turnovers. Gillespie had a goal, four ground balls and three caused turnovers, while O'Berry led the team with eight ground balls. 

As a team, the Petrels were outshot 26-20, but they scooped up 38 ground balls to Piedmont's 35 and converted on 12-of-19 clear attempts. The turnover battle was also fairly even, Oglethorpe committing 24 to Piedmont's 23. The Lions did win 12 of the game's 15 faceoffs.

"We were shorthanded again this afternoon, so I was proud of the way the guys battled," said Oglethorpe head coach Nathan Young. "We hung in all game and that's a credit to our fight, given the circumstances. We've got a nice long break now, so hopefully we'll be able to get some guys healthy and regroup before we head into conference play."

The Petrels' next game will be in three weeks' time against Southern Athletic Association opponent Berry. They'll take on the Vikings at 6 p.m. from the Oglethorpe Track and Field before heading off to Irving, Texas, for three games over spring break against Franciscan, Dallas and Wabash.