TIFFIN -- The Heidelberg University Men's Lacrosse team lost at home to Marietta College, 13-9. The Pioneers used a five-goal surge in the second half to change the complexion of the back-and-forth game. Malachai Davis had a five point performance and Rayce Septer had four points.  

Marietta improved to 5-5, 1-2 OAC and Heidelberg slipped to 4-6, 0-3.  

Marietta led, 2-0, after a physical first quarter of play. 

Early in the second, Rayce Septer took a pass from Malachai Davis in the slot and beat the Pioneer goalkeeper.  Midway through the period, Septer scored the equalizer coming out of a timeout. He blistered a shot into the top corner of the next. 

Septer's second set off a flurry of goals from both teams. Marietta broke the tie with 5:37 to play in the half. Less than a minute later, Kaivan Jones tied things back up, slipping in behind the Pioneers defense.  Undaunted, Marietta regained the lead 20 seconds later.  

In the final 90 seconds of the second quarter, Mario Manzardo forced a turnover behind the Marietta net. In the ensuing chaos, Davis scooped a shot into the net. The game remained knotted at four at halftime. 

The Pioneers took the lead early in the third, but HU answered with a man-up goal from Manzardo.  Marietta ended the period on a four-goal run and led, 9-5, to start the fourth.  

Trailing 10-5, Septer scored his third of the game with a goal at the 8:29 mark of the fourth. Later, Septer led a counterattack, drew pressure, then found a wide-open Davis trailing the charge. Davis easily beat the goalkeeper, cutting the Marietta advantage back to four.   

Two minutes later, Davis completed his hat trick, scoring from the right side. HU was down 11-8 with 4:19 left.  

With this team on a two-man advantage, Davis scored a man up goal with 3:24 remaining. 

Marietta found an insurance goal with 2:07 to play, pushing their lead back to three. They added one in the final minute of play for good measure. 

Wilson Runnette made 13 saves in the loss.  

Up next, Heidelberg travels to Ohio Northern on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. game with the Polar Bears.