POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 15, 2016) - James Thomas scored a hat trick, as the Vassar men's lacrosse team fell 13-8 to Wesleyan University on Tuesday.

Thomas was one of four Brewers to score in the setback: Noah Parson and Sam Houston-Read each notched two goals with two assists, and Liam Neville potted a goal as well.

While it was Thomas' first game for Vassar, Parson has a team-high 10 goals on the season, Houston-Read has eight and Neville has two.

Steven Mages picked up a team-high six ground balls, Brandon DeStasio collected four and Chris Billups secured three.

The Cardinals led by as many as three, 4-1, in the first quarter, but the Brewers continued to battle.

Parson knotted the game at 5-all with back-to-back goals in the second quarter. But Wesleyan scored three unanswered before Parson passed to Thomas for his second goal of the day, 8-6.

The Cardinals pushed their lead to 10-6, but the Brewers kept chipping away. Thomas and Houston-Read scored consecutive goals to put Vassar within two in the fourth quarter.

Wesleyan closed the game by scoring the final three goals, two of which were man-up. The Cardinals capitalized on Brewer penalties, going 3-for-4 in extra-man opportunities.

Brandon Crecco took the loss, surrendering 13 goals with 10 saves, while Ted Bergman earned the win, allowing eight goals with nine saves.

Harry Stanton and Niall Devaney each scored three goals for Wesleyan, as nine Cardinals found the back of the net.

The Vassar men's lacrosse team looks to bounce back at Mount Saint Mary College (NY) on Wednesday, March 23 at 1 p.m.