GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College men's lacrosse team opened the 2018 season Saturday with an 8-7 non-conference loss in double overtime to the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders at the Rissell-Schreyer Dome.
 
The Tomcats led 5-2 at halftime and 6-4 after three quarters of play. However, the Purple Raiders outscored the Tomcats 3-1 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
 
Liam Stickle (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) gave the Tomcats a 2-goal lead (7-5) early in the fourth on a pass from Kyle Reib (Erie, Pa./McDowell). Mount Union countered with a pair of unassisted markers. Grant Elffers scored at the 8:50 mark while Paul Gill scored the equalizer with 4:57 remaining in regulation.
 
After a scoreless overtime session, Elffers netted the game-winner for Mount Union with 2:17 remaining in the second overtime period.
 
Gill led Mount Union with three points (2G, 1A) while Elffers scored two goals, including the game-winner.
 
Freshman Jeffrey Karnoff (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) led Thiel with a hat trick and added an assist for a 4-point game. Reib tallied a trio of assists while Stickle scored a pair of goals.
 
Cole O'Connor (Midlothian, Va./James River) made 24 saves for the Tomcats while Jake Krone made 13 saves for the Purple Raiders.
 
The Tomcats will be back in action Saturday, March 3 when they host the Hilbert Hawks. The non-conference game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the Rissell-Schreyer Dome.