STEUBENVILLE – The Franciscan men's lacrosse team fell to Muskingum, 24-5, Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Muskies got the first two goals of the game in the first two minutes before junior Michael Araps cut the lead in half with his fifth goal of the season. Senior Dan McCartney caused a turnover with 13:02 to go in the first and picked up the ground ball. McCartney flipped the ball to Araps who buried the shot to the keepers left.
 
Muskingum then rattled off 13-straight goals to take a commanding 15-1 lead with 3:36 to play in the second quarter.
 
McCartney halted the run with his 15^th goal of the season with 2:35 to play before halftime. The Muskies scored once more before the half to lead 16-2 at the intermission.
 
The two teams traded goals to open the third quarter as Araps scored his second goal of the game with 10:16 to play in the third. Muskingum went on a three-goal run to end the quarter to take a 20-3 lead with 15 minutes to play.
 
Once again, the teams traded goals in the first three minutes of action, but it was junior Steve Smith to post the tally for the Barons. Smith added a second goal three minutes later with 34 seconds left in the Barons man-up opportunity. Muskingum scored the game's final two goals to bring the score to its final, 24-5.
 
McCartney led the Barons with a goal and an assist while picking up seven ground balls. Araps and Smith each scored twice. Junior Jonathan Lee won 11 of 29 face offs for the Barons.
 
Franciscan returns to action on Saturday as the Barons welcome Alfred State to Memorial Field for a 1:00 pm start.