GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gettysburg ended the game on a 7-0 run and the fifth-ranked Bullets pulled away late for a 12-5 victory over Eastern University in non-conference men's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at a windy, sunny Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium.
 
The Bullets (6-0) continued their strong defensive play and have now allowed six goals or less in their last three games. Gettysburg yielded just 10 shots, forced 24 turnovers, and caused eight failed clears.
 
Five different players scored during Gettysburg's decisive run, including a go-ahead tally from sophomore Brian Kolen (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) that made it 6-5 with 1:08 left in the third quarter. The Orange and Blue would go on to outscore the Eagles 6-0 in the final period.
 
Kolen and sophomore Michael McCormick (Lorton, Va./Paul VI Catholic) led the way offensively with three goals each, including two apiece during Gettysburg's game-ending surge. Kolen added one assist while junior Mike Risser (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) tallied a pair of goals. Freshman Jack Fletcher (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day School) contributed one goal, two assists, and three caused turnovers.
 
Sophomore defenseman Mitch Wykoff (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) and sophomore long-stick midfielder Christian Atalese (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) paced Gettysburg's stellar defensive effort. Wykoff finished with six ground balls and two caused turnovers while Atalese posted three grounders and a career-high four caused turnovers. Atalese also contributed offensively with his first collegiate goal.
 
Senior Tim Brady (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) made three saves for the Bullets and moved into sole possession of third in school history in career goalie wins (46). Classmate Geoff Fulgione (North Andover, Mass./Brooks School) went 12-for-21 on face-offs.
 
Jameal Hadeed stopped 11 shots for Eastern (1-4) while Trent Ashton scored twice.
 
The victory marked win No. 395 at Gettysburg for Bullet head coach Hank Janczyk.
 
Gettysburg never trailed, although the game was tied on four occasions. Risser and McCormick each scored in the game's opening six minutes to put the Bullets up 2-0, but Eastern blanked the Bullets over the remainder of the quarter. Matt Auletti scored for Eastern with 7:33 showing to make it 2-1 at the end of the period.
 
Neither side scored again until Ashton struck with 6:32 left in the opening half to pull the Eagles even. The two teams would then trade goals three times.
 
Atalese scored off a face-off with 6:06 left in the second quarter, scooping up a broken pass and burying a shot in front of the goal, to make it 3-2. Ashton tallied again with 4:33 on the clock and the two sides headed to the locker room with the score deadlocked at 3-3.
 
Kolen answered less than two minutes into the third quarter before Sean Fechter tied it again for Eastern at the 9:59 mark. Fletcher and Eastern's Jake Billera exchanged goals to make 5-5 with 3:31 showing before Kolen's go-ahead tally made it 6-5 after three quarters of play.
 
Risser and McCormick each struck over the opening eight minutes of the fourth quarter to put Gettysburg up 8-5. Later in the period, the Bullets scored twice in seven seconds, starting with a goal from junior Andrew Garstka (Springfield, Va./Paul VI Catholic) with 5:01 left just after a stall warning had been called. Fulgione won the ensuing face-off, raced the ball upfield, and dished a pass to Kolen, who connected from the left wing to make it 10-5.
 
McCormick converted again with 2:54 left for his first career hat trick. Junior Jack Harvey (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) set the final score when he scored at 2:28 mark.
 
Gettysburg continues its season on Wednesday, when it visits Washington and Lee at 5 p.m. in another non-conference outing.