POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Neumann University men's lacrosse team took a 3-1 lead in the first quarter against Bard on Sunday, and did it without a single goal or assist from Canadian star Chase Fraser, a senior transfer who was the third pick overall in the February Western Lacrosse Association Draft.

After Bard rallied and took the lead, however, almost every offensive possession in the second half was funneled toward the 6-foot-1, 205-pound attackman from Vancouver. This is what the game had come down to: Could Bard stop Fraser?

Fraser almost brought his team all the way back, but Bard hung on and gutted out a 9-7 victory, avenging a 9-7 loss at Neumann a year before. This one was tense.

Bard (3-0) held Neumann (1-2) without a goal in the second quarter, but scored three - including a laser with one second left by John Palermo - to take a 5-3 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, Fraser scored four goals, three unassisted, and Bard was clinging to an 8-7 lead going into the fourth quarter.

In the final 15 minutes, Fraser got off six shots: One was high, one was wide, and the rest were stopped by freshman keeper Lyle Healey, who finished with 18 saves in his first college start. The dagger came with just under two minutes left, when Anthony Stanley caught a cutting pass from Emmet O'Connell and buried it to make it 9-7, giving the Raptors a little breathing room. It was the only goal by either team in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore William Baffuto was the one tasked with trying to stop Fraser one-on-one. Fraser got off 21 shots, scored four goals (all in the third quarter), and turned it over five times. Baffuto caused two of those turnovers, while defensive mate Will Hughes had three caused turnovers and seven ground balls.

Bard went 12-of-18 on faceoffs - 8-of-12 from Weston Bishop. Clears and turnovers were pretty close, but Bard won the ground ball battle 40-25.

Neumann's freshman keeper Brendan Risley (Ridley, PA) made 20 saves.

For Bard, Palermo, O'Connell and Blake Burnley each scored twice, with O'Connell adding two assists. George Goceljak and Sam Smith each scored once, and Corey Rich had three assists.

Up next the Raptors will travel to N.J. to take on FDU-Florham on Wednesday night. You can follow that game via Live Stats right here.