RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- In taking on the Buccaneers of Beloit College, the Concordia-Chicago men's lacrosse team was prepared to be challenged on both ends of the field. After jumping out to an early lead, the Cougars struggled to keep up with the Bucs' pace of the game before ultimately falling 13-7.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Junior Brett Krueger led the offense today, scoring two goals and dishing one assist. 
• Sophomore Hunter Combe had his third goal in as many games today, as he proves to lead the team in shot selection with a .300 shot percentage. 

Senior Jordan Loeffler got the Cougars on the board right away, as Combe found Loeffler camped out on the far side of the crease to convert the goal less than one minute into play. Unfortunately for CUC, Loeffler's goal would be his team's lone lead of the day.

From there, the Bucs gathered a 2-1 lead with eight minutes left in the frame. Still working with momentum though, the Cougars responded on a Combe-Krueger combination that settled the score at two goals apiece. However, after the equalizer, Beloit went on a three-goal run that established a solid 5-2 lead over CUC.

In an effort to spur Beloit's offense, the Cougars went man-up after a cross-checking penalty. As the penalty time nearly expired, Tate Macfarlane was able to find the back of the net and score on the extra-man opportunity to make it a 5-3 game.

While the Cougars crept back, the Bucs shut down the threat with one more goal before the first half expired. 

MLAX: After one half of play, the Bucs lead the Cougars 6-3.

Tate Macfarlane, Jordan Loeffler and Hunter Combe have each scored a goal for CUC. pic.twitter.com/bJajkPvrlv

— CUC Athletics (@CUChicagoSports) April 20, 2019

Things got physical in the second half, as the two teams combined for seven penalties. While CUC and Beloit exchanged goals to open up the second half, the Bucs proceeded to go on another three-goal tear to close out the third quarter.

Heading into the final frame of play down 11-5, the Cougars tacked on two goals from Loeffler and Boston Dumas. However, the comeback attempt would not be enough as Beloit's established lead held out long enough to win it 13-7. 

CUC returns to action this week for a midweek contest against Benedictine University.