In Hofstra’s first game action since last spring, the Pride men’s lacrosse team fell to Ohio State University 9-7 on Saturday afternoon.

Unlike Hofstra, the nation’s sixth-ranked Buckeyes were coming off back-to-back wins to start off the season.

Having a couple games under their belt seemed be advantageous for the Buckeyes early on, getting out to an early 5-0 lead in the first period.

Soon, the Pride rallied back though, outscoring Ohio State 3-1 in the second period, setting them up for a comeback effort that fell just short in the closing minutes.

“Unfortunately, we dropped down to 5-0 and then our guys fought back and we got it to one goal. I thought we had a point of scare in them, they haven’t been scared all year. But we hit a pipe, or we hit a knee cap and we never tied it up,” said Hofstra lacrosse head coach Seth Tierney.

Getting Hofstra back on track was Jimmy Yanes with 8:27 left in the second period. Yanes scored an unassisted goal to notch the Pride’s first goal of the season.

Yanes went on to score two more goals and record his fifth career hat-trick.

Also scoring for the Pride was Ryan Tierney with two, as well as Brendan Kavanagh and Dylan McIntosh each netting one.

Kavanagh particularly had the timely goal that brought Hofstra within one point of the Buckeyes in the final quarter.

Defensively, goalie Jack Concannon secured nine saves to match the nine goals that slipped through.

“I thought Jack played well. I thought there were maybe one or two that he’d like to have back and that would bring the score from nine to seven,” Tierney said. “They have some firepower. Tre Leclaire can bang it. These guys played in the national championship game.”

For Ohio State, Tre Leclaire, Gale Thrope, and Collin Chell each scored twice. Leclaire also added two assists in the victory.

Next up for Hofstra will be Villanova University exactly one week after the Buckeye loss. The Pride will look to rebound in its home opener on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 12 p.m.