(box score)
Widener fought tooth and nail with sixth-ranked Dickinson to the final seconds, only to suffer a tough 9-8 loss at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.
The Pride (2-2) put up a fight in the first half, playing to a 4-4 stalemate thanks to a 15-12 shots edge. Sophomore Johnny Casey (Glenside, PA) scored twice in the half with junior Michael Bassani (Califon, NJ) and sophomore Josh Fox (Wynnewood, PA) adding one each.
The Red Devils (6-1) scored the first three goals of the third quarter, opening an 8-4 cushion with four minutes left. Brian Cannon scored the final two markers with Brandon Palladino and Ward Gruppo getting one apiece.
The teams traded goals for a 9-5 margin before Widener (2-2) began its comeback. JJ Hoeffler (Cranford, NJ) scored with 8:26 remaining and fellow senior Mike Holtz (Easton, PA) followed suit 2 1/2 minutes later for a 9-7 contest.
Widener had several chances later before Fox scored with 39 seconds left for a 9-8 contest. Freshman Craig Hunsberger (Perkasie, PA) won the ensuing face-off and sophomore Charlie Bytheway (Glen Mills, PA) scooped the ground ball to give the Pride a chance.
But it went for naught as Widener committed a turnover in its own end to snap its two-game winning streak.
Casey and Fox each scored twice with senior Nick Politarhos (Ridley, PA) getting five caused turnovers and four ground balls for Widener.
Cannon had a hat trick, Chip Murray totaled five ground balls to go with winning 11-of-19 face-offs and Greg Hanley made 13 saves for the Red Devils.
Widener next Wednesday hosts Messiah in its Middle Atlantic Conference opener, beginning at 7:00 pm.
