MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Despite a career-high six points for Junior Jared Rainville (Watertown, Conn.), the Connecticut College men's lacrosse team fell to Middlebury 12-10 on Friday afternoon.

Coming off a strong overtime victory over Endicott, Connecticut College (1-1) came into the game hoping the momentum would carry on against its NESCAC foe. Playing in its first conference game of the season, the Camels held a 7-6 lead through three quarters. But Middlebury utilized a four-goal run in the middle of the final frame to claim the victory.

The back-and-forth contest started in the first quarter. After freshman Patrick Atkins scored off an assist from classmate Aidan McAvoy, the Panthers responded with two consecutive goals to give the hosts a 2-1 lead with 1:22 left in the opening stanza. With time on the clock dwindling, Rainville found the back of the net on his first goal with 42 seconds to go to tie the score at two to end the quarter.

Middlebury (1-1) started the second strong, with back-to-back goals from Billy Curtis and Patrick Jamin just two minutes apart. Not to be outdone, the Camels took advantage of a Panthers' penalty and Gus Mazzocca (West Hartford, Conn.) scored from 20 yards out to cut the deficit to 4-3. Connecticut College finished the quarter strong on McAvoy's first collegiate goal with 5:44 to go in the half. Rainville added his second tally of the game with less than one minute left to give the Camels the lead heading into the break.

The evenly matched game continued onto the third quarter with both team scoring two goals each. The Panthers tied the contest on a strike from Jack Sheehan, but the Camels answered five minutes later with McAvoy's second score of the game followed by Rainville's hat trick goal to give the visitors its largest lead of the game at 7-5. With only 37 seconds left in the quarter, Middlebury's Henry Tarr cut into the lead. The teams entered the decisive final frame in a one-goal contest.

McAvoy earned his first-career hat trick 2:50 into the fourth quarter to push the Camels to an 8-6 lead. But in the ensuing 10 minutes, Middlebury went on a four-goal run on scores by Tom Conley, William Ryan, Curtis and Sheehan to regain the lead, 10-8. Mazzocca responded for Conn with 2:38 left on a bouncing shot from 15 yards out to cut into the deficit. The Camels had a chance to tie the game after winning the following face-off, but the Panthers defense forced a turnover. Middlebury was able to drain a minute off the clock, and a Conley score brought the lead to 11-9. Rainville would score his fourth goal with only 30 seconds remaining, but the Panthers won the ensuing face-off and the home team was able to deal the 12-10 victory on an empty net goal. 

In addition to his four goals, Rainville recorded two assists. Sophomore Jack Tenzer (Charlotte, N.C.) also tallied two assists for Conn. 

Will Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) made 15 saves in goal for the Camels, while Finn O'Connor stopped nine shots for Middlebury. Conn won the face-off battle 14-12.   

Connecticut College will next play non-conference opponent Adelphi on Monday, March 14 on the road.