Westfield, Indiana - The Columbia College men's lacrosse team dropped their season opener today, falling to the Trojans of Taylor University in a close contest. 

Columbia, now 0-1, has a short turnaround as they take on #10 Concordia University (Mich.) tomorrow to end their road trip. Game time is set for 1:00PM CST in Westfield, Indiana. 

After the Cougars took an early 1-0 lead, the Trojans scored three times in a row to lead 3-1. Brock Pleis scored back to back goals, followed by a goal from Zach Baker, and Columbia led 4-3. As time expired, Taylor managed one more goal with 10-seconds left to tie the game at the end of the first quarter. 

Both teams traded possessions for most of the second quarter until a goal from Kai Garriock put the Cougars up 5-4. Taylor scored three goals in under three minutes and took a 7-5 lead at the half. 

Columbia outscored Taylor 3-2 in the third quarter with goals from Brock Pleis, Drake Morrissey, and Nico Andrews. 

Trailing 9-8 at the start of the fourth, William Rusk scored to tie the game again for the Cougars. More back and forth action saw the Trojans score three unanswered goals to end the game.


Stat Leaders:

• Goals - Brock Pleis (4), Zach Baker (2), William Rusk (1), Dylan Forbeck (1), Kai Garriock (1), Nico Andrews (1), Drake Morrissey (1)
• Assists - Garriock (3), Rusk (2), Andrews (2), Baker (1), Morrissey (1), Fletcher Wood (1)
• Ground balls - Kail Marris (6), Rusk (2), Baker (2), Tanner Jones (2)
• Faceoffs - Kail Mattis (19-28)
• Saves - Andrew Stapf (6)