KENOSHA, Wis. – The Calvin University men's lacrosse team lost for the first time this season by a 10-8 final at Carthage College on Saturday in a battle of unbeaten teams.
 
Calvin (3-1) started strong, but Carthage (5-0) closed with five of the final six goals to earn the comeback win.
 
The two teams traded the lead back and forth early, with the Knights getting first quarter goals from Braden Carpenter (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville), Colin TeBrake (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Northview) and Jacob Bledsoe (Mission Viejo, Calif./J. Serra Catholic) on the way to a 3-3 tie after one.
 
The Firebirds scored early in the second quarter to take a 4-3 lead, but Thomas Smith (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) scored twice to end the quarter to give Calvin a 5-4 lead at the halfway point.
 
The two goals give Smith 99 for his career, just two away from tying the program's all-time record for career goals.
 
After Carthage tied the score 5-5, the Knights took a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Joshua Moyer (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) and David Blackmon (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) with just over six minutes left in the third quarter.
 
Carthage answered with a run of its own, however, scoring four straight goals between the 5:25 mark of the third quarter and the 7:23 mark of the fourth quarter to take a two-goal lead at 9-7.
 
Calvin cut the deficit to 9-8 with a goal from Moyer with 6:51 to play in the fourth quarter, but the Firebirds tacked on one more late insurance goal and held off the Knights down the stretch to earn the win.
 
Smith and Moyer each finished with two goals, while Cole McKenney (Mission Viejo, Calif./Trabuco Hills) recorded three assists and five ground balls.
 
On defense, Josh Gage (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) finished with four caused turnovers and five ground balls. Carter Sherman (Ada, Mich./Lowell) made 18 saves in goal for Calvin.
 
COACH'S COMMENT: "We learned a lot today," Calvin head men's lacrosse coach Dave Hoger said. "Carthage did a great job exposing some areas we need to improve in and that's what games in the early season are for. We will grow from this and are excited to have all of next week to get better before we compete again."
 
NEXT UP: Calvin men's lacrosse will return to action when it faces SUNY Oneonta on Wednesday, March 12, in Jacksonville, Florida.