COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Senior midfielder Mike Neal (Shelby Township, Mich./De La Salle) had two goal and two assists as Ursinus (6-1, 2-0 Centennial) broke a three-game losing skid to Franklin & Marshall by handing the Diplomats (3-5, 1-1 Centennial) 9-7 in men's lacrosse play on Wednesday.

Junior attack Steve Mussoline (Macungie, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) and senior attack Steve Smyrl (Glen Mills, Pa./Garnet Valley) each had two goals in the win, with senior midfielder Jake Weber (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) and senior midfielder Ian Moore (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fairhaven) going for a goal and an assist.

F&M was led by two goals from and two assists from senior midfielder Chad Gamble.

After a defensive struggle in the first quarter that saw each team get one goal, the Diplomats took a 2-1 lead 55 seconds into the second quarter on a goal by Gamble. From there, Ursinus went on a 6-0 run that spanned the second and third quarters. Neal scored both of his goals during that time, including one with 1:42 left in the half to give the Bears a 5-2 lead at intermission.

The run was capped by an extra-man goal from Smyrl on an assist from Neal with 2:55 left in the third for a 7-2 lead.

F&M made a run at it in the fourth quarter, closing the game on a 5-2 scoring run. A goal from Gamble and one from senior midfielder Ben Ross both came within 41 seconds of each other to get the Diplomats with three at 9-6.

However, the Ursinus defensive unit held the Diplomats to just one more goal during the final 6:02 to get the win. Ursinus forced 19 turnovers, with senior defender Ryan Ridinger (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) getting five caused turnovers in the win.

Junior goalkeeper Brian Neff (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) had ten saves in the win for Ursinus, while senior Timothy Mattessich had 12 for F&M.

The Bears head to Dickinson on Saturday.