KINGS POINT, N.Y. – CUA dropped its Landmark Conference opener to Merchant Marine Academy by a score of 14-8 on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals led after the 1st and 2nd quarters, but the Mariners used a 9-2 run in the second half to pull away and earn the win. Brendan Englert led the Cards with two goals.

CUA scored the first two goals of the game, with Jake Eisenstodt and Brian Keith totaling one score each in the opening 7:19.

USMMA got on the board for the first time with 7:07 on the 1st quarter clock, but Billy Kirmsse came right back and scored to put CUA in front by three.

Geoff Harty pulled the Mariners to within two early in the 2nd, and the score remained that way for the next eight minutes until CUA's Bobby Kusbit found the back of the net to put the visitors in front by three.

USMMA then scored two straight to pull within one, but Englert scored with only 19 ticks on the clock to send CUA into halftime with a one-goal advantage.

Less than three minutes into the 3rd, Walter Hickey gave the Cardinals a two-goal lead, but USMMA closed the quarter out on a 3-0 run to go in front 8-7 heading into the final 15 minutes.

The Mariners opened the 4th with three straight goals to go in front 11-7 with 6:20 remaining, but Sean Cummins answered for CUA to close within three.

That wound up being CUA's final goal however, and USMMA added three more to pull away.

Merchant Marine Academy was credited with 40 shots on the afternoon, while CUA finished with 32. CUA finished 17 of 20 in clear attempts and the Cardinals scooped up 30 ground balls.

CUA returns home for its next two games, beginning on Wednesday evening, when the Cardinals host Williams. Start time is set for 6 p.m.