GRANTHAM, Pa. -- Clo Muscara became the first men's lacrosse player to reach 100 goals, but an ill-timed dry spell in the second and third quarters for Arcadia contributed to a 15-11 loss at Messiah on Wednesday night.
 
With four goals, Muscara moved to 102 for his career in becoming the initial the member of the Knights' 100-goal club. Already the program's all-time leading scorer, he now has 38 goals on the season, just three off last season's 41 markers.
 
The Knights (7-6, 2-2 MAC Commonwealth) scored five goals in the first quarter and four in the final period, but combined for just two goals over the second and third quarters. The Falcons (7-5, 4-1) also scored five in the opening period and four in the fourth, but managed to score six over the middle two stanzas to pull out the four-goal win.
 
Muscara (4g) and Joe Pedisich (1g/3a) led the Knights with four points apiece, and Josh Keitz, Tanner Pajakinas and Wesley Sporer each contributed two points, and Keitz added seven ground balls and three caused turnovers. Pajakinas and Nick Crawford each had four ground balls.
 
The Falcons had a 56-30 edge in shots for the game, including a 30-15 edge in the deciding second and third quarters. Messiah also held a slim 34-33 edge in ground balls and won 16 faceoffs to 12 for the Knights.
 
After falling behind 5-3 with just over 6:30 left in the first quarter, Sporer and Muscara each scored in the final 3:54 to pull AU even at 5-5. After each team scored to open the second and level the score at 6-6, Messiah scored three goals to close the first half and two to open the second in taking an 11-6 lead.
 
Arcadia answered with a 5-1 surge, capped by back-to-back goals from Muscara to close the gap to 12-11 with 7:29 left to play. After the Falcons won the ensuing faceoff, Grant Palmer came up with one of his 18 saves and the Knights successfully cleared, only to turn the ball over and see Messiah convert at the other end for a 13-11 lead with 5:48 remaining.
 
Messiah tacked on two more insurance goals in the final five minutes for the final four-goal margin.
 
The Knights are back on the field on Saturday when they host Lycoming at 1 p.m.