Each fourth quarter has been a different story for the Penn State men's lacrosse team this season. Most of the time, there haven't been happy endings.

Sometimes, there's the story of the Nittany Lions' team that heads into the fourth quarter optimistically; It's within a goal or two of the opponent, the game still within reach, but the opposing team builds a lead that can't be overcome.

Other times, there's the Lions team that comes into the fourth quarter trailing significantly, and it looks as if there's no hope for a comeback. Its offense gets going, but ultimately falls just short of a win.

The fourth quarter of Saturday's game, however, may have been the most disappointing type.

The Lions (2-5, 1-2 ECAC) began Saturday's fourth quarter leading Massachusetts (3-5, 1-1 ECAC) by two goals, but ultimately allowed the Minutemen to tie the game and win it in overtime, 6-5.

The Minutemen's fourth-quarter comeback happened because of defensive mistakes by the Lions that were quickly capitalized on, said Dan Saltsman, a senior defenseman. He added that the Lions were sliding too early, creating a situation where their opponents would have a one-man advantage as they marched down the field.

Penn State head coach Glenn Thiel cited two other areas that put the Lions at a disadvantage -- turnovers and lack of extra-man opportunities. The Lions committed a total of 13 turnovers in the game, six of them coming in the final 15 minutes.

"We just can't afford six turnovers in the fourth quarter," Thiel said. "We made the mistakes at the wrong time in the game."

The sudden-death overtime period didn't even last one minute. Penn State's Devin Madden lost the face-off to the Minutemen's Bobby Hayes, and the Lions never got the ball again.

Despite the loss, both Thiel and Saltsman were quick to praise sophomore goalie Drew Adams, who came up with 20 saves.

"The performance that Drew put up, that was something to watch," Saltsman said.

"As a player on the field, it was almost as if you weren't even playing, it was a showdown between the two goalies in the cage. With an average goalie, that game could have been 21-20."

With the loss, the Lions drop two games behind ECAC-leading Loyola in the conference standings, Loyola having won all three of its conference games.

The Lions will continue their ECAC schedule next weekend against Hobart College. Saltsman conceded that it would be tough to win the conference now, having already lost to two ECAC opponents. Nevertheless, he said, the team is still optimistic.

"Anything can happen," Saltsman said. "It all just depends on how you finish up."