TAMPA -- The Hawks lost a close one Friday night, falling to Saint Leo 7-5 in Tampa.

Shorter moved to 2-4 on the season with the loss.

Zachery Dirkse got things going for the Hawks with 12:00 to play in the first period as he netted the first go of the game. The Lions answered one minute later to tie the game on a goal from Jason Randolph; Saint Leo then closed out the frame with three unanswered goals to take a 4-1 lead into the second quarter.

Andrew King cut the deficit in half for Shorter with his first goal of the season at the 12:46 mark, only to see the Lions regain the three point advantage six minutes later. Saint Leo led the Hawks 5-2 at the break.

Shorter held the Lions scoreless in the third quarter; while adding two goals of their own to make it a 5-4 game. Tyler Schott scored on a pass from James VandenBrink with 7:10 on the clock, and Alex Malinowski found the back of the net with 4:15 to play on an assist from Michael Williams.

In the final period Saint Leo added two goals – both by Dylan Yonts – and held the Hawks to one to close out the win 7-5. Travis Getz rounded out the scoring for Shorter with a goal on an assist from Schott with 3:21 remaining in the game.

JR Willers played the complete game in goal for the Hawks; making 13 saves on 20 shots faced.

In total the Lions outshot Shorter 39-24, and held the advantage 20-16 in shots on goal. The Hawks scooped up 14 ground balls in the game with Williams leading the team with 4 for the game.

Shorter will be back in action March 11 as they travel to Charlotte, N.C. to take on Belmont Abbey. Game time is set for 1:00pm.