Newark, NJ - The Wagner College men's lacrosse team competed in its final non-conference game of the 2025 season in a close loss to NJIT, 12-11, on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Seahawks struck first thanks to the stick of Danny McMahon just over six minutes into the game. Freshman Sean Sanchez found McMahon who struck the back of the net with eight seconds left in the frame to put Wagner up 2-1 towards the end of the opening quarter.

The Highlanders would score the first three goals of the second to go up 4-2 with nine minutes remaining in the frame. 

McMahon secured his first hat-trick of the year off a dish from junior Jake Mitchell with 7:17 left in the second. One minute later, Sanchez scored after senior Patrick Caldwell found the Santa Ana, CA native to tie the game at four.

After a goal by NJIT's Russell Maher, senior Daniel Mercado would respond by taking one of his 10 face-off wins, marching down the field, and scoring his second goal in as many games.

Next, Danny McMahon's four goal put the Seahawks ahead 6-5 with 4:19 to go in the second. 

At the half, Wagner and NJIT were knotted at six each.

The Highlanders would score the first two goals of the third, but Wagner would go on a run of its own in the third, stringing together three straight scores in less than two minutes off the sticks of sophomore Griffin Edwards, Sean Sanchez, and senior Ethan Sieb.

NJIT added one goal with less than one minute to go in the third to tie the score, 9-9, heading into the fourth quarter.

Danny McMahon scored his career-high fifth goal of the game to start the final frame. 

The Highlanders would score the next three goals to take a 12-10 lead with 6:52 remaining in the game.

Senior Ethan Sieb connected on his team-high ninth goal of the 2025 season with 4:09 to play.

The Seahawks could not find the equalizer late and would fall, 12-11, to the Highlanders.

In goal, senior Nate Yi got his first start of the season and saved a career-high 16 shots on 50 shots faced in 60 minutes of action. 

As a team, the Green & White went 3-3 on Man-Up Opportunities while holding NJIT to 1-4 in the category.

Saturday's loss marks the second one-point loss of the year, as UMass-Lowell defeated Wagner by a score of 13-12 on Hameline Field back on February 22.

Next up, Wagner will begin conference play against Cleveland State on Saturday, March 15 on Hameline Field at noon.