PURCHASE, NY -  The Purchase College men's lacrosse team lost a heartbreaker Wednesday night, falling to the Hawks of SUNY New Paltz, 9-8, in double overtime.

Ryan Scully (FR/Bay Shore, NY) was the hero for New Paltz, as he found the back of the net off a feed from Mason Pontrelli (FR/Lynbrook, NY) with 1:44 remaining in the second overtime.

Meanwhile, Purchase was left with a bitter taste in its mouth, as the squad managed to rally from a two-goal deficit over the final five minutes of regulation, including a man-down game-tying goal with 0.8 remaining in the fourth quarter. 

However, it was the Hawks who escaped with the victory and now sport a 2-2 record. The loss dropped the Panthers to 1-1 overall.

After starting the contest with a scoreless first quarter, the Panthers exploded in the second with four-straight strikes. Dan Ohrem (SR/Ridgefield, CT) converted the first three goals over a six-minute span, before Ben Erkan (JR/Bellport, NY) capped the run with an individual effort off a faceoff he won.

At that point, Purchase led 4-0 with 7:24 left in the second. Over the rest of the frame, the Panthers were held off the scoreboard, but limited the Hawks to just one late goal.

In the second half though, things started to change.

New Paltz converted a pair of chances during the opening five minutes of the third period, cutting the deficit to 4-3. The Panthers answered right back, as Joseph Ely (SO/North Salem, NY) scored an unassisted goal and Erkan found the back of the net on a man-up opportunity.

With those strikes, Purchase pushed its lead back to three, 6-3, with 5:42 left in the third. 

Unfortunately for the hosts, they were held scoreless during the next 15 minutes, as the Hawks scored five goals in a row over the remainder of the third/start of the fourth quarter. 

Finally, Purchase managed to break the spell with another man-up goal from Erkan with 5:26 left in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 8-7. From there, New Paltz tried its hardest to play keep away and run out the clock on the Panthers.

The guests nearly succeeded in doing so, especially when the hosts drew two penalties during the last minute of regulation.

But the Panthers never quit.

Purchase managed to force the guests into a late turnover and rushed down the field for one last opportunity. 

Connor Schwenker (SO/Westhampton Beach, NY) found a crossing Christian Ishoo (SO/Tarrytown, NY), who managed to bury the man-down strike with 0.8 remaining in the frame. Ishoo was mobbed by teammates immediately, as the New Paltz squad was deflated by the result.

However, the two sides knew that the game was still wide open with overtime coming up. After an uneventful first period, both sides created chances in the second overtime.

For Purchase, Emerson Parks (SO/Penfield, NY) nearly won the thing with a crazy over-the-shoulder shot in front of goal that just went wide. In fact, over the two overtime periods, all three shots the Panthers managed went wide of the frame.

Meanwhile, both of New Paltz's chances were on target, as Eamon McGee (SR/White Plains, NY) saved the first but not the second. McGee finished with nine saves in the loss.

For the game, Purchase took more shots-on-goal, won more face-offs and was better on clears, while New Paltz topped the hosts in ground balls and saves. 

Erkan led Purchase with three goals, five ground balls and went 11-for-17 on face-offs. Ohrem finished with the three goals, his second-straight hat trick. Ishoo had a goal and an assist. 

Schwenker collected a pair of assists, while Ely added one goal, six ground balls and a caused turnover. Bridger Carreau (SR/Marietta, GA) chipped in five ground balls and three caused turnovers.

For the Hawks, Scully finished with four goals (including the game winner) and three assists. Nate Lindsey (FR/Fulton, NY) was the other hero on the night, as he came off the bench to start the second half in goal. He finished with five saves and the win. 

Up next for the Panthers is another home non-conference battle against a SUNY school, this one coming against Cobleskill on March 14th. That game is set to begin at noon and you can follow it here.