DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In head coach John Jez's inaugural game at the helm of the Embry-Riddle men's lacrosse program, the Eagles fell just short of rival Flagler on Saturday, 12-8. Despite a pair of goals in the third and fourth periods, an early 5-1 hole to the Saints proved to be the difference.
 
Christian Hofer paced the Eagles (0-1) on the day with four goals on five shots on goal, while Pete Abbes, Coleman Jacobs, Joe Anderson and Parker Liposky all found the back of the net as well. Carter Groezinger earned the start in net for the Blue & Gold, while Reid Kerr guarded the net in the second half.
 
Flagler jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the first quarter, scoring twice in just over a minute, at 14:11 and 13:16 to move ahead 2-0. Anderson got the Eagles rolling, chomping back at 9:13 to make it a 2-1 game, but the Saints added another in the next possession.
 
After holding a 6-1 lead early in the second, Hofer found the back of the net for his first of four tallies on the day. Once again Flagler answered with two more scores, to move the ledger to 8-2 with just over nine minutes to play in the second frame.
 
The Eagles, however would make strides down the stretch, as Hofer and Jacobs each added a quick score as time was under two minutes, allowing the Eagles to head to the break down a manageable 8-4.
 
Abbes added his first goal of the year at 4:41 in the third, moving the score to 8-5, but the Saints' Tyler Douglass pinned on in to make it 9-5 under a minute later. Around the two minute mark, Hofer scored his third of the day to keep the Eagles in it. 
 
But three early fourth-period goals from the visitors put things out of reach for the home Eagles. Liposky netted a shot at 6:58, and Hofer added his fourth score of the day a few minutes later, but it ultimately wasn't enough to overcome the Saints, who came away with the 12-8 win.
 
The Eagles move forward and will visit Anderson next Saturday for a 12 p.m. showdown.