NEWBERRY, S.C. – Newberry College freshman attack Caleb Forga scored a hat trick in a 10-9 loss to No. 9 University of Mount Olive Tuesday night.
 
The Trojans scored three unanswered goals in the opening 6:37 of play. After senior midfielder Justin Messersmith won a face-off, Forga scored to put the Wolves on the board. Each team scored one more goal in the period, including one from junior midfielder Zachary Sunderland assisted by sophomore attack Scott Reed.
 
Mount Olive opened the second period in the same fashion they began the first and took a 7-2 lead with three more unanswered goals. Reed halted Mount Olive's scoring run with a man-up goal. Newberry was 1-4 (.250) in man-up opportunities while the Trojans were 1-6 (.166).

Trailing 8-4 with 4:31 to play in the second period, Forga scored to complete his hat trick and Messersmith also found the back of the net to bring Newberry within two, 8-6 at halftime.
 
Freshman midfielder Curtis Bukta and senior midfielder Kyle Dunklee scored back-to-back goals to tie the game 8-8. The Wolves took more five shots after tying the game in the third quarter but were unable to take the lead. Mount Olive scored once more with 1:53 to play in the third and we up 9-8 heading into the fourth period.
 
On their second possession of the final quarter, Messersmith scored to tie everything up for a second time, 9-9, with 12:15 to play in the game. Mount Olive retook a 10-9 advantage, 4:33 later. The Wolves attempted four shots after the Trojans scored, but only one was on -target. Newberry was unable to get the equalizer and lost a hard-fought game with one of the top-ranked teams in the country.
 
FAST FACTS

• The Wolves controlled the possession game on the face-off dot, winning 15-23 (.652) of the face-offs in the game. Messersmith went 14-21 (.666) in the circle to lead the way for Newberry.
• Eight different Wolves recorded a point on the night. Forga (three goals) and Dunklee (one goal, two assists) lead the way with three points each.
• Reed had one goal and one assist and claimed the team lead for season points with seven.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Wolves (1-1) host No. 12 Queens University of Charlotte (0-1) on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. The Royals lost 9-4 to Mount Olive on Saturday, Feb. 20.