BELOIT, Wis. - The Beloit College Men's Lacrosse team opened the 2024 season this afternoon on the road in Mount Vernon, Iowa against the Cornell College Rams. The Bucs fell by the final score of 7-9. Cornell out shot the Bucs 48-35. 

Beloit (0-1, 0-0 NACC) scored the first two goals of the game. Will Palmer (Downers Grove, Ill.) found the back of the net at the 8:58 mark. Four minutes later, with 4:52 on the clock, Ryder Story (Salem, Ore.) buried a shot with Jordan Rice (Riverdale, Ill.) getting the assist. Twenty-two seconds later, Cornell (2-2) scored their first goal of the game. With just over two minutes remaining in the quarter, Story scored his second goal of the game, giving the Bucs a 3-1 lead, Jeffrey Battle (Deerfield, IL) assisted on the goal. The Rams would wrap up the scoring in the first quarter in the final minute to pull within one. 

Only one goal was scored in the second quarter, Cornell tied the game with one second remaining before the half. In the third, Liam Walker (Elmhurst, Ill.) and Rice found the back of the net. Walker scoring at 14:10 and Rice scoring at 2:39. Despite the Bucs goals, the score was tied at five heading into the final frame. 

The final 15 minutes was the highest scoring quarter all together. Cornell scored four goals while the Bucs netted two. Story recorded the hat-trick when he connected on a pass from Samuel Van Der Kolk (Grand Haven, Mich.) in the 8th minute. Palmer scored with under two minutes but the Bucs attempt at a comeback fell just short. 

Eric Seo (Woodridge, Ill.) played the entire game in goal for the Bucs, recording 19 saves. 

The Buccaneers host Northland College on Tuesday March 5th at Strong Stadium. The game will start at 7 pm.