FAIRFIELD, CT -- The University of Delaware took a three-goal lead into the final quarter, but the Blue Hens couldn’t hold on as Sacred Heart scored four goals in the final frame, including the game-winner by Kiel Adams with 22 seconds left, to post a 9-8 Colonial Athletic Association men’s lacrosse victory Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Hens, ranked No. 16 in this week’s United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association poll, scored five goals in the third quarter to take a 8-5 lead into the final frame but were shutout by Sacred Heart the rest of the way. Delaware fell to 9-3 (1-2 CAA) and suffered its second straight conference road loss after winning three straight.

The game was played in a heavy rain which turned to snow over the last two minutes of the contest.

Junior Dan Deckelbaum (at right) led the Blue Hens with two goals and two assists while Jordan Hall had a goal and an assist, Alex Smith won 18 of 21 faceoffs, and goalkeeper Tommy Scherr posted 16 saves. Delaware junior Cam Howard added a goal, increasing his point-scoring streak to 17 straight games going back to last season.

Matthew Robideau led Sacred Heart (2-8, 2-2 CAA) with two goals and an assist while Adams scored twice and Bobby Karl added a goal and an assist. Goalkeeper Jim Millhausen was big in goal, stopping 15 shots, including all four in the final quarter for the Pioneers.

SHU scored the game’s first two goals before the Hens got three straight from Jarryd Knouse, Drew Turner, and Howard to take the lead. The Pioneers then tied the score at 3 3 heading into halftime on a goal by Karl with 7:52 left in the half.

Delaware took control in the third stanza, outscoring Sacred Heart 5-2 to take an 8-5 lead into the final quarter. The Blue Hens scored three straight goals to take a 6-4 lead, and after a goal by SHU’s Casey Kirch, went up 8-5 when Deckelbaum and Beau Davis scored goals 14 seconds apart in the final 35 seconds of the stanza.

But the Hens could not come up with any more offense. Sacred Heart rallied, getting goals by Peter Greco, Robideau, and Andrew Bailey to tie the score at 8-8 with 3:17 left. The Pioneers then took the lead on Adams’ goal with 22 seconds left.

Sacred Heart’s Joe Cavagnaro, who had won just two of 20 earlier faceoffs against Delaware’s Smith, won the ensuing faceoff and the Pioneers ran out the clock for the win.

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