MOUNT VERNON, Iowa -- The Lawrence University men's lacrosse team opened Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play with a 9-6 setback to Cornell College at Van Metre Field.
    Cornell pulled out to a three-goal advantage early in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings weren't able to get closer than two goals the rest of the way.
    Iori Yamada led Lawrence (2-4, 0-1 NACC) with three goals on 13 shots. Robbie Spielmann, Judah Goehring and Brody Herr added one goal apiece for Lawrence, and Herr had a team-best two assists.
    Gavin Reiter made 19 saves for the Vikings, and Thomas Cook stopped 20 shots for Cornell (4-3, 1-1).
    Herr gave Lawrence its only lead of the game at 1-0 early in the opening quarter, but Cornell scored the next three goals. Lawrence played catch-up for the best of the game, cutting the lead to one on three occasions.
    After Yamada's goal trimmed the lead to 5-4 with 4:11 left in the third quarter, Cornell scored the next three goals. The Vikings never got closer than two goals after that.
    Cornell posted a 37-31 edge in ground balls and had a 15-4 advantage in faceoffs.