DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University men's lacrosse team came away on the wrong end of a see-saw battle against non-conference foe Goucher College, as the Gophers scored last and stole a 9-8 victory.

The Aggies fell to 2-3 on the year while Goucher moved to 2-5.

The Gophers found the ninth tally, to break the eighth tie of the game, with 40 seconds left in regulation. The score was tied at every number from 0-0 to 8-8, with the only exception, 6-6.

DelVal scored first when Cole Graeff scored his fifth of the season 4:52 into the game. The two teams traded goals through the first quarter and through the second as they went into the halftime break knotted at 4-4.  For the Aggies, Daniel Aulisi scored twice in the first half and George Evanick got the first of the second quarter.

Face-offs in the first half were an even 5-5, while the Aggies led in shots 16-13.

Milan Temple gave the Gophers a 5-4 lead with the first goal of the third quarter, but DelVal responded with three-straight to open up the largest lead of the game at 7-5. The Aggies goals came in a span of 2:02 with Aulisi, Brett Ziegler, and Jack Sprinkle scoring. DelVal maintained the two-goal lead into the fourth quarter.

The story of the final stanza was penalties. The Aggies were flagged for seven penalties and never saw a man-up situation of their own. Goucher converted 3-of-7 man-up opportunities including the game-winner from Ben Smith who scored his second of the game with just 40 seconds left in regulation.

Temple and Nolan each scored man-up goals separated by just 37 seconds in the fourth quarter to give the Gophers an 8-7 lead. Moments later, Chris Marren's seventh goal of the season tied the game for the Aggies with 5:44 to play.

There were 12 penalties and 13 minutes, 30 seconds of penalty time against DelVal, and three penalties for 2 minutes, 30 seconds against the visiting Gophers.

Aulisi scored three times in the game to up his team-best total to 15 this season, and he added an assist for four points. Ziegler had a goal and an assist for two points. Sean Mylod led the team with six ground balls and five caused turnovers. Jim Murphy played all 60 minutes in goal and made 18 saves.

Temple had three goals and Jacob Morgan had three assists to pace Goucher. Ben Smith added three points of his own with two goals and an assist. Eric Conaway, Jr. pitched in with 11-of-14 face-offs won and eight ground balls to go with a caused turnover. Justin Lugo was called upon to make eight saves.

DelVal will look to bounce-back at home on Saturday against another non-conference foe Gwynedd Mercy at 1 p.m.