SPARKS, Md. -- The Grove City College men's lacrosse team nearly erased a nine-goal deficit Saturday afternoon against the United States Coast Guard Academy but the Wolverines ultimately dropped a 14-11 decision in non-conference action at USA Lacrosse headquarters. 

Grove City trailed 11-2 late in the first half before pulling to within 12-11 midway through the fourth quarter. However, USCGA (3-0) scored twice in the final 8:15 to seal the win.

Sophomore attack Matt Blythe (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) paced Grove City by firing in four goals. Freshman midfielder Kobi Bui (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) added three goals. Junior midfielder Griffen Agawa (San Ramon, Calif./California), sophomore attack Zachary Hougan (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro), junior midfielder Luke Jayne (Vero Beach, Fla./Saint Edward's) and freshman defender Sam Stevenson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) also scored for Grove City.

Sophomore midfielder Trey Zabroski (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) assisted two goals while Bui, Hougan, Jayne and senior defender Cody Adams (Pullman, Wash./Pullman) all chalked up assists. 

Grove City trailed 11-2 late in the first half but Blythe's unassisted goal with 1:43 left in the second quarter sparked the comeback effort. Bui scored 21 seconds into the third quarter, igniting Grove City's six-goal third quarter. 

Hougan cut the lead to 11-5 with an unassisted goal at 13:44. Bui added a man-up goal six minutes later while Blythe scored off a Zabroski assist with four minutes left in the third quarter. Bui and Stevenson scored in the final minute of the quarter, closing the margin to 11-9. Blythe then scored twice in the fourth quarter, trimming the USCGA lead to 12-11. 

Grove City held a 46-39 edge in total shots, along with a 30-24 advantage in shots on goal. Grove City turned over possession 17 times while Coast Guard had 21 turnovers. Each team won 13 faceoffs.

Junior goalie Danny Stone (Chantilly, Va./Flint Hill) made 10 saves for the Wolverines.

Grove City will visit Thiel at 12 p.m. Tuesday in the Presidents' Athletic Conference opener.