MILWAUKEE – The MSOE lacrosse team scored the final five goals of the game in a furious comeback attempt, but fell short in an 8-6 loss to Cornell in their MLC opener Saturday afternoon at Viets Field.

The Raiders (1-4, 0-1 MLC) trailed 8-1 late in the third quarter and looked like a comeback was in the works, as they scored three goals in a 1:47 span early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, they did not pull within two of the Rams (2-5, 1-0 MLC) until the waning seconds.

Sophomore Clay Gustafson had two goals and an assist for MSOE, while senior Zach Markell also scored twice in the comeback.

Cornell got three goals on 12 shots from Michael Paquette, but also benefited from 15 saves on the other end of the field by Evan Kedjidjian to fend off the Red & White attack.

The Rams led 5-0 at halftime with a decisive 25-7 shot advantage. After sophomore Thomas Reid broke the shutout, CC netted three more goals in succession, the final two in a 30-second span, to open an 8-1 advantage.

Markell netted a goal just 12 seconds later off the face-off, but the game went to the fourth quarter 8-2 in the visitor's favor.

Markell then scored again at the 11:55 mark of the fourth quarter off an assist from sophomore Oliver Winsor. Sophomore Oliver Kennedy scored at 10:52 and Gustafson scored his first just 44 seconds later to make it 8-5 and give the Raiders hope.

Unfortunately, they were unable to ride the momentum until the final minute. Gustafson scored an up goal with 27 seconds to go to make it 8-6 and Reid had a shot on goal saved off the face-off, but MSOE fell short in the end.

After a lopsided first half in favor of the Rams, the Raiders seized a foothold in the second half. They outshot the visitors 24-9 over the final two quarters. Face-offs were big for MSOE, as senior Aaron Chun was 13-for-17 on the day, leading to some quick scoring chances throughout the game.

Sophomore Pat Collins stopped 11 shots in the game in goal.

The Raiders return to the field Monday, hosting Dallas at 1 p.m.