WHITTIER, Calif.—A 10-0 run performed by host Whittier College in the middle of the game doomed Gordon Men's Lacrosse, as the Scots lost for the first time in two weeks, 13-10. Four different Scots scored two goals in the game, but a long scoring drought between the second and third quarters proved to be the difference in the evenly matched contest.
 
The Poets snap a three-game winning streak by the Fighting Scots, who fall to 3-3 on the season. Monday night was Whittier's season debut.
 
Gordon was off to the races in the first quarter, following a similar trend that has led them to success over the past two weeks. Michael Utz (Rochester, N.Y.) scored less than a minute into the game on a feed from Jordan Heckelmann (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to give Gordon a one-goal advantage. Senior Sam Spellman (Lewes, Del.) scored his first goal of the season just five minutes later on a give-and-go from Jake Martin (Watertown, Conn.). 
 
The Fighting Scots won the impending faceoff, which allowed Ryan Utz (Rochester, N.Y.) to work some magic on the offensive end. The junior took the ball in himself and finished to give Gordon a fast 3-0 lead. Gordon was unable to score for the remainder of the period, but held the Poets scoreless during the first 15 minutes.
 
Whittier got on the board just 30 seconds into the next stanza with Aaron Self (San Clemente, Calif.) finishing off a feed from Maxwell Jones (Fircrest, Wash.) to make it 3-1, Gordon.
 
The Fighting Scots answered right back with Heckelmann's first goal of the game assisted by Nico Manganiello (Peabody, Mass.). Gordon continued to pound the Poets' goal with shot after shot and eventually broke through again with an unassisted attempt from Martin to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
 
Gordon held the four-goal advantage until the late stages of the second quarter when the offense began to click for the Poets. Whittier scored five goals in less than five minutes to end the half and stun a previously in-control Gordon heading into the break.
 
The Poets shocking run didn't end there, scoring the first five goals of the third period in just six minutes of game clock. All 10 goals scored during the run happened within only 11 minutes of actual game time and put Gordon in a precarious hole.
 
Gordon went on a three-goal run of its own to bring them back within three scores before the end of the period. However, it proved to be too little, too late for the Scots. Both teams scored twice in the final quarter and the Poets held on for the bizarre victory.
 
Self and Jones both contributed a hat-trick for the Poets. Alex Cramer (Rocky Hill, Conn.) won his first collegiate start and made 14 saves in the process for Whittier. Nick Hernandez (La Mesa, Calif.) led Whittier with seven ground balls.
 
Manganiello, Martin, Ryan Utz and Heckelmann all added two goals apiece for Gordon. Cody Greenwald (Albany, N.Y.) drops to 3-2 on the season, but made 12 saves in the loss.
 
Gordon remains in California this week and will play Swarthmore in Irvine on Wednesday afternoon.