MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University men’s lacrosse team trailed by just one with under a minute remaining the first half before eventually succumbing to No. 8 Villanova, 14-9, on Saturday afternoon at Valley Fields. Reigning BIG EAST Conference Attack Player of the Week John Wagner posted a hat trick to lead the Golden Eagles (4-4, 1-1 BIG EAST), who dropped their first game in league play. Freshman Anthony Orsini also scored twice for Marquette, while Peter Henkhaus, Bob Pelton and Colin Riehl found their way onto the scoresheet with a goal. Senior Zachary Melillo, who had missed MU’s last three contests with injury, returned to the field and took all 26 face-offs, converting 17 of them into Marquette possessions. Villanova (8-2, 1-0 BIG EAST) was led by freshman attackman Keegan Khan, who tallied seven goals, including four in the pivotal third quarter, and a natural hat trick. Khan also recorded six goals in VU’s last game against Fairfield and is the reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. Marquette trailed by a single goal with under a minute remaining in the first half, but a Devin McNamara gave the Wildcats a 6-4 advantage with one second on the clock in the second quarter. From there VU pulled away with six goals in the third quarter to build a seven-goal edge. Until Peter Henkhaus scored with 7:56 remaining in the third quarter, Villanova had scored eight straight goals and held a 11-4 lead. Sophomore P.J. Cox made his first career start at close defense in place of the injured Nick Grill, who missed the first game of his collegiate career. The Golden Eagles return to action against St. John’s in New York, on Saturday, April 7 at noon Central time.