Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – The Westminster College men's lacrosse team couldn't overcome a slow start and lost to Boston College, 12-11, in the first round of the MCLA National Championships on Monday evening at Concordia University.
 
Westminster, the tournament's No. 9 seed, falls to 11-7 overall this season with its first-ever loss in the first round of the National Championships. No. 8-seed Boston College moves to 11-3 this season by beating the Griffins in their first-ever Division I tournament game.
 
Things looked good early for the Griffins as Taylor Atchison gave them the early 1-0 lead at the 11:18 mark of the first quarter. His eighth goal of the season came on an assist from Josh Holland. Boston College answered with four-straight goals before Collin Madsen scored unassisted for the Griffins to make it 4-2 Eagles late in the first quarter.
 
After Joseph Volk gave BC the 5-2 lead, Holland tallied with a man-advantage to get Westminster back within 5-3 with 12:05 on the first half clock. Two more goals from the Eagles were answered by the second goal of the period from Holland to make it 7-4 on his 45 goal of the season with 7:57 remaining in the half.
 
Leading 8-4 at halftime, Boston College scored six minutes into the third quarter to establish its largest lead of the evening at 9-4. Consecutive goals from Kevin Gee that were assisted by Kyle Postler got the Griffins to 9-6 at the 5:12 mark of the frame. John Lambrecht put the Eagles back in front 10-6 before Postler closed the quarter with his first goal of the game to send it to the fourth with BC holding a 10-7 advantage.
 
Lambrecht pushed the lead to 11-7 at the 13:32 mark of the fourth with the Griffins responding with consecutive goals by Ethan Gosselin and Elias Fairman making ti 11-9 with 8:14 on the clock. Will Forsyth scored to push the Eagles lead back to three at 12-9 with only 3:36 remaining. Madsen scored just 27 seconds later and it was again a two-goal difference in the closing minutes.
 
After forcing a turnover, Westminster took advantage of a Boston College penalty with a man-up goal from Postler to make the score 12-11 with 30 seconds to play. The Eagles won the ensuing face-off and were able to run out the clock for the first round win.
 
Boston College dominated the face-offs all evening with a 16-10 in the battles. They also had a 43-33 advantage in shot attempts and a 36-23 edge in ground balls. Westminster was able to get back in the game by going 4-of-6 with the man-advantage and holding the Eagles to just 14-of-24 in clearing attempts while going 18-of-22 themselves.
 
Postler and Madsen each had five-point games for the Griffins as they both finished with two goals and three assists. Holland and Gee also scored a pair of goals with Holland picking up one assist and taking a team-best seven shots. Spencer Huso claimed a team-high five ground balls and Jeff Peters caused two turnovers.
 
Chris Burckle took the defeat in goal despite making 13 saves. During a 98 second spurt in the second quarter when Burckle was out serving a penalty, Ben Tourek came up with six huge stops playing two-men down to keep his team in the contest.
 
Mark Flood scored three goals to lead Boston College with Lambrecht finishing with an Eagle-high four points with his two goals and two assists. Mike Shepard made nine saves in goal with Chris Knoth getting nine ground balls and causing three turnovers