WEST PALM BEACH, Fla- The Palm Beach Atlantic men's lacrosse team dropped an SSC game 13-11 to No. 13 Florida Tech on Saturday. For the 'Fish it was their fourth consecutive game against an opponent ranked in the national top-20. Ben Justice scored four goals. Hunter Hopman scored three, and Caleb Southard had two. 

Defensively, PBA's Aaron Miechiels caused three turnovers along with three ground balls. Ben Lightsey made his tenth start in net for the 'Fish and recorded 13 saves. Noah McKoeun went 66% at the faceoff x with 12 ground balls.

A  Hopman hat-trick headlined the first quarter as the Sailfish built a 7-3 lead. At 13:55, Austin Evans connected with Justice on the crease. Justice turned and fired a shot that gave PBA a 1-0 advantage. The Panthers answered back with an equalizer before the Sailfish went on a 6-0 run. Hopman's first goal of the game put PBA up 2-1. At 11:04 in the first Joshua Turner notched his fourth goal of the season with a laser. Almost 30 seconds later Hopman weaved his way through Panther defenders and ripped a shot for a PBA 4-1 lead. At 6:54 in the first quarter Justice dodged and ripped a lefty bounce shot that extended the 'Fish lead to 5-1. 

Southard's highlight-reel goal put the Sailfish up 6-1. Southard, swarmed by Panther defenders in front of the goal took a behind-the-back shot that found net. Southard is fourth on the team in goals with 12 this season. Hopman completed his first quarter hat-trick with 5:01 in the first quarter. The Panthers closed out the opening quarter with a 2-0 run. 

The Sailfish were held scoreless in the second quarter. The Panthers pumped in two goals as the score at halftime was 7-5. 

Henry Sloyan opened up the second half with a deep righty rocket to build PBA's lead to 8-5. Sloyan leads the Sailfish in goals with 19 this season. The Panthers scored two quick goals to cut the deficit to 8-7. Sloyan distributed in the third quarter with two assists. At 7:35 in the third, Sloyan found Justice for Justice's third goal of the game. With 1:34 left in the third, Sloyan connected with Southard for Southard's second of the game. PBA led 10-7 through three quarters. 

A three-minute unreleasable penalty put the Sailfish in a bind as Florida Tech capitalized. The Panthers closed the game out on a 6-1 run. Florida Tech took their first lead of the game with 5:44 left. PBA's lone goal of the fourth quarter came with 1:57 left. Justice launched a shot top corner to bring his season total to 14.

PBA fell to 4-6 on the season. Next, the Sailfish travel to Boca Raton for a SSC matchup against Lynn on Wednesday, Apr. 13.