WEST CALDWELL, N.J. – Despite a 19 for 22 performance from the faceoff spot by redshirt sophomore Jose McLean-Byrd (Bronx, N.Y.), Felician University was defeated by host Caldwell University, 11-7, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men's lacrosse action on Tuesday afternoon at Essex Valley School.

Freshman attack Robert Grasso (Islip, N.Y.) scored three goals and senior midfielder James D'Albora (Staten Island, N.Y.) added a pair for Felician (2-6, 1-3 CACC). Caldwell sophomore Michael Brown (Glenolden, Pa.) (one assist) and freshman Jayden Paladino (Hawthorne, N.J.) (three ground balls) tallied three times apiece.

Felician, which never led, trailed, 3-1, after one period. Grasso found the cage during the first minute of the second quarter, but his team never scored again before halftime and was down, 5-2 at the break. The third period followed a similar pattern, with Grasso scoring 1:17 into the action. This time, however, the Cougars responded with four scores for a 9-3 advantage.

The Golden Falcons ran off four consecutive goals during the first six minutes of the fourth quarter – two from D'Albora and one each by Grasso and Anthony Hanratty (Hewitt, N.J.) to pull to within 9-7. Felician won the ensuing faceoff and sent a shot wide, and the score held until Caldwell's Kevin Albright (Mays Landing, N.J.) converted with 5:14 remaining. Felician did not score again after Hanratty's marker.

McLean-Byrd led all players with eight ground balls while breaking his own Felician single-game record for faceoff percentage with an .863 figure. Golden Falcons goalie Pat Hemmer (Staten Island, N.Y.) made 13 saves with three ground balls, while his counterpart, Caldwell's Tim Livingston (Holtsville, N.Y.) earned the victory with 14 saves.