ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Adams State Men's Lacrosse nearly pulled an upset on the road Tuesday evening in a non-conference bout against No. 14 Lindenwood. A mid-game scoring surge helped the Lions hold off the Grizzlies by a final of 14-9.

The Grizzlies (1-4) ran well with the Lions (7-2) and were tied at 4-all going into halftime but a third period slump that saw the Grizzlies score just one goal while Lions scored nine proved to make the difference. 

Neither team took care of the ball efficiently as the Grizzlies committed three more than the Lions, 21-18. Helping the Lions offense was 45-26 edge in shots (32-15 SOG) while going 16-18 in clear attempts. They won the faceoff battle for the game as well, 20-6.

The game's first goal was not scored until the 13:28 mark of the first period and it was the Grizzlies who struck first. Emmitt MacFarlane got the Grizzlies on top 1-0 with the help of a quick grab-and-go pass from Kale Wilson. The Lions answered though scoring the next four goals to lead 4-1 after the first.

Defense was the theme for much of the second period but the Grizzlies also found a groove on the offensive side of the ball as they scored three goals and held the Lions scoreless to tie the game at the break, 4-4. Wilson provided the spark scoring two of the three goals and assisted on the other.

The first Adams State goal came on the efforts of Riley Morrison at the 13:15 mark. Wilson notched his second assist of the game as he found Morrison for the first goal of the period and cut the score to 4-2. Lindenwood surrendered the second goal with just over nine minutes on the clock as Wilson found the back of the net on his own merit.

The Lions looked to stay in front with just a one-goal lead and it seemed it might stay that way as they held the Grizzlies scoreless for the next six minutes. The Grizzlies had an answer as well as they did not allow the Lions offense to ever establish any rhythm.

Wilson notched the second goal at the 3:12 mark on the assist from Jacob Austin and the Grizzlies knotted the game at 4-4 going into the locker room. The Lions did outshoot the Grizzlies in the second period, 11-6 (6-4 SOG), but six saves by the visitors helped them get back into the game.

Coming out of the halftime break, Lindenwood found its groove and scored nine unanswered goals in the third period to open the game up. The home's team offensive surge also correlated to defense as Adams State scored just one goal in that span.

The Lions ripped off four straight goals in the third before the Grizzlies managed to answer with their lone goal. MacFarlane added the goal with 3:55 left to play in the frame on the assist from Terry Trudgian. The late goal made it a 9-5 game, but Lions then added four more to take a 13-5 lead into the fourth.

The final 15 minutes of action went in the Grizzlies favor with them scoring four goals and holding the Lions to just one. Despite the efforts, the Grizzlies were unable to overcome their deficit and fell by five. The Lions struck first in the fourth but the Grizzlies then scored four straight to end the game.

Wilson added the first goal with 10:09 to play in the fourth. His goal, off the assist from Tanner Beck, looked to spark a rally as the Grizzlies added another goal 38 seconds later. Beck scored second goal but the final two did not come until final minute of the fourth.

Morrison scored the third goal with just 57 seconds left to play. The fourth and final Grizzlies goal was scored by Johnny Rosas with :32 on the clock. Rosas also assisted on Morrison's goal. 

Wilson led the Grizzlies offense with five points on a trio of goals and a pair of assists. He finished with three shots, all of which were on goal. Morrison and MacFarlane each had two points on two goals scored, respectively. Rosas and Beck also tallied two points on a goal and an assist each. Goalkeeper Connor Johnson tallied a season-high 18 saves in the loss.

Ethan Noel put up four points, all on goals scored, to lead Lindenwood offensively. Grant Glazier added three goals for the Lions. Three other players also added two points in the win for the lions. In net, Landon Schuster notched six saves for the Lions.

The Grizzlies conclude their three-game road trip this Thursday, March 21 at Saint Mary. Game time against the Spires is set for a 4 p.m. start in Leavenworth, Kan.