LAKELAND, Fla. – The Concordia University Irvine men's lacrosse team opened up its Florida trip with a ferocious second half comeback against nationally ranked Florida Southern.

CUI scored the last four goals of the contest to draw within one, but the No. 16 Mocs were able to hang on for a 9-8 victory.

The game featured a ton of firsts for the Golden Eagles. Connor Kuhl bounced in his first goal of the season after a successful clear to knot the game at 1-1 in the early going.

Freshman Brody Champion scored his first career goal on an unassisted opportunity in the second period that put CUI up 3-2. Sandwiched around him cashing in, were two goals by Chad McFadden as well.

Concordia led 4-3 late in the second period before the Mocs tied the match by halftime

The third period was all Florida Southern as they outscored CUI 5-1.

To their credit though, Concordia regrouped and did not allow a single goal the entire fourth period.

Freshman Keegan Charapoom net his first two career goals as a Golden Eagle in the second half, with one coming off an assist from McFadden.  McFadden also fed Jeremy Barnes for his first score of the year when CUI was a man up.

Matt Carresi joined the scoring party with a goal in the final minute of regulation to trim the deficit to 9-8. However, the Mocs were able to bleed out the clock and eke out the narrow victory.

Next up for Concordia is a visit to No. 19 Saint Leo on Tuesday evening followed by a Thursday matinee at No. 2 Tampa at 9:00 a.m. PT (12 p.m local Florida Time).

The home opener for CUI men's lacrosse is Thursday, March 6 at 6 p.m. against nationally ranked Adelphi.

CLICK HERE for the updated CUI men's lacrosse schedule