MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - McDaniel College men's lacrosse sophomore Jason Fritz scored a career-high five points as the Green Terror opened their 2023 season with a 14-9 loss at Messiah Saturday.

McDaniel (0-1) scored four of the game's first five goals and led 4-2 after one, but the Falcons outscored the team 12-5 over the final three quarters.

Fritz tied his career high with three goals, recording his second career hat-trick and first since Apr. 3, 2022 in a 12-11 overtime loss to Southwestern at home. He scored two of the team's four first quarter goals and assisted on a third.

After the Green Terror jumped out to a 4-1 advantage, Messiah (1-0) scored three-straight to tie the game at 4-4 just 35 seconds into the second quarter.

Led by goals from juniors Nick Wingo, Dom Calderoni and Eric Manfredonia, McDaniel pushed its lead to 7-5 before the Falcons again answered with three-straight to take their first lead, 8-7 with 4:16 remaining in the second quarter.

Senior Nick DeLoriers scored on the man-advantage two minutes later and the game headed to the half tied for the third time, 8-8.

However, Messiah outscored the Green Terror 6-1 in the second half, totaling 20 shots and forcing 12 McDaniel turnovers. Fritz managed to complete his hat-trick on a man-up goal with 5:12 remaining in the third for what proved to be the team's only goal of the half on 14 shots.

Graduate student Brighton Lorber made 19 saves in goal for the Green Terror and now has 407 for his career, becoming just the 10th player in program history to reach 400.

McDaniel had six different players score a goal and eight record a point, including freshman Will Beacham who picked up his first career point with an assist on DeLoriers' goal to end the first half.

After four seasons at Gettysburg, graduate student Nate Capriglione earned his first point in a McDaniel uniform when he assisted Fritz on the game's first goal just 52 seconds into the game. Capriglione led the team with six ground balls.

The Green Terror host Lycoming next Saturday, Feb. 25 at Gill Stadium. Face-off is set for 1 p.m.