DANVILLE, Va. — After falling into an early deficit, the Averett University men's lacrosse team scored five goals in the fourth quarter to mount a late comeback effort, but fell just short in a 9-8 loss to Wesley College on Wednesday on Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium.

Wesley (2-1) scored twice in the opening quarter to take a 2-0 lead heading into the second quarter. After the Wolverines added two more goals early in the second, sophomore Parker Corbett scored the first goal of the game for Averett (0-5) to make it a 4-1 deficit. However, Wesley scored once more to take a 5-1 lead heading into the halftime break.

Both teams scored twice in the third quarter, as sophomore Mason Foy scored both goals for the Cougars, as Averett trailed 7-3 heading into the fourth.

After Wesley scored the first goal of the final quarter, the Cougars rattled off three more from sophomore Brenner Woodcock, sophomore Ballard Earley and junior Nate Hann to cut the lead to 8-6 with 9:39 remaining in the game. The Wolverines added a goal to expand the lead to 9-6 with 4:31 remaining, before Foy added two man-up goals to cut the lead to just 9-8 with 2:04 left in the game. However, Averett couldn't capitalize on the late momentum and fell just short of the comeback effort.

Offensively, Foy led the team with four goals, tying the program record he set last season for most goals in a game. Woodcock and Earley were right behind him, notching one goal and two assists for three points apiece, while junior Rafael Walker also had two assists. Corbett and Hann scored Averett's other two goals on the day.

Defensively, Walker led the team with eight ground balls while Corbett was just behind him with seven. Junior Miska Granlund led the team with three caused turnovers while Corbett added two of his own. In goal, junior Jacob Shriver made 22 saves for a save percentage of 71.0.

Averett returns to action when it travels to Pfeiffer University for its USA South Conference opener on Saturday at 4 p.m.