Playing its home opener in the TBK Bank Sports Complex, St. Ambrose saw a late rally came up a goal short in a 12-11 loss to Lourdes Saturday night in Bettendorf, Iowa.

The No. 9-ranked Bees got off to a fast start, taking a 3-1 lead midway through the opening quarter, but then watched Lourdes score 10 of the next 13 goals to fall beind 11-6.

Danny Kinnerk added a late third-period goal off a Chris Scislowski assist to trim the deficit to four goals heading into the fourth quarter.

After Lourdes answered a Hunter Northway goal to keep the margin at four goals, the Bees mounted a rally. Goals from Myles Leyden and Jared Morgan brought St. Ambrose to within 12-10 with just over six minutes remaining. Inside the final two minutes, Christian Dimaano closed the gap to a single goal with his unassisted tally.

The Bees (2-1) kept the pressure on the Gray Wolves but were unable to find the equalizer in dropping their first game of the season.

Leyden (four goals) and Kinnerk (three) combined for seven of SAU's 11 goals. Austin Adams joined Kinnerk, Northway and Morgan with single goals. Kinnerk and Morgan also each picked up an assist.

Louis Mallillin took the loss. He made nine saves before Johnny Moran came up with four saves over the final 25 minutes.

St. Ambrose will next begin its Spring Break trip with a game at Tennessee Wesleyan next Sunday.