GAMBIER, Ohio - The Kenyon College Lords lacrosse team owned or shared the lead for three quarters of play Wednesday, but the No. 13-ranked Denison University Big Red rang up all five fourth-quarter goals to seal a 15-12 victory in a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) matchup at McBride Field.

The Lords began the game on a 3-0 run with two goals from senior Emilio Sosa and one from sophomore Matt Pollack before Denison fought back to tie the game at 4-4 just over a minute into the second quarter. The Lords then went on a 5-1 run to take a 9-5 advantage at the break. During that outburst, Sosa scored twice, while Nick Vitale scored once and assisted on both Sosa goals.

Meanwhile, Kenyon sophomore goalie David Metzger was on fire, racking up 12 saves in the first half. He made another 11 saves after that and registered a career-best 23 for the game.

The Kenyon men rode the momentum into the second half. They capitalized on a Denison penalty to score a man-up goal and extended their lead to five. Sosa scored again later in the third, giving him a game-high seven scores. The Big Red, however, clawed their way back, outscoring Kenyon 5-3 in the quarter to move within a pair of goals entering the fourth quarter.

That final quarter was all Big Red as they scored five unanswered goals, including two by Jake Waxter, to close out the comeback victory. Waxter led Denison (9-2, 4-0 NCAC) with seven points on four goals and three assists. Peter Pittroff also had seven points. His output was tallied on two goals and five assists.  

Following Sosa's seven-point effort for Kenyon (7-5, 2-2 NCAC), Vitale finished with six points on a goal and five assists. Kenyon's other five goals were scored by five different players.

Denison ended up out-shooting Kenyon 55-37, but the big difference in the game was Kenyon's 14 second-half turnovers. Denison continually took advantage of those miscues, while only turning the ball over five times in the half and 11 times for the game.

The Lords will look to bounce back Saturday, when they play their next game at home against DePauw University. That conference contest, which will also be Kenyon's Senior Day celebration, is slated for a 1 p.m. start at McBride Field.