Pictured Above: Junior John Norton (Photo: Bob Park)

Fairfield, CT – The Wagner College men's lacrosse team outscored Sacred Heart 5-1 over the final 23 minutes of this afternoon's contest, but it wasn't enough, as the Seahawks dropped a 12-10 decision to the Pioneers.

With the loss, Wagner falls to 4-8 on the year and 0-4 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play, while SHU evens its season mark at 6-6 and improves to 2-3 in the NEC.

The Seahawks were led by junior  attackman John Norton's hat trick, while senior modfielder JP Pawela and sophomore midfielder Tim Schmidt each notched one goal and one assist.

In goal, junior Matt Sefcik saved 14 shots, logging his ninth game with 10 or more saves of the season.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period, before Norton converted an assist from Schmidt to get the Green and White on the board with 52 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Wagner countered the Pioneers' second 4-0 run of the half with a run of its own, starting at the 5:39 mark in the second quarter.

A man-up goal by junior attack Kevin Gray, followed by back-to-back quick scores from Schmidt and Pawela, cut the deficit to 8-4, before sophomore attackman Dominic Branda answered an SHU goal with his first tally of the afternoon to make it 9-5 at the half.

At the outset of the third period, Sacred Heart's Logan Liljeberg converted on two scoring opportunities, giving Sacred Heart an 11-5 advantage at the 11:02 mark.

The Seahawks then began their furious comeback, starting with a goal by junior attack Prince Davis at the 7:57 mark of the third. Goals by Norton and freshman midfielder  Tyler Grady made it a three-goal game with under 12 minutes to play in the fourth, before SHU's Kevin Cop extended the Pioneers' lead to 12-8.

The Seahawks answered once again, as senior attackman Andrew Streilein picked up his first goal of the contest, before Norton completed his hat trick on a late man-up goal, but Sacred Heart held on for the victory.

The Green and White are next in action on Saturday, April 21, for a Senior Day matchup against Robert Morris at 1:00 pm at Hameline Field.