Nicholas McKaba	Matt Finor	Gus Sturm
Matt Tibbetts	Alec Mikrut	Michael Bernier

Box Score

SCRANTON, Pa.—SUNY Plattsburgh held The University of Scranton men’s lacrosse team to just one goal in the second half en route to an 11-7 victory in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.

Sophomore attacker Brendan Damm (Montauk, NY/East Hampton) led the Cardinals, now 6-2, with four goals and an assist and senior midfielder Tom Duggan (Levittown, NY/NYIT) scored two of his three goals in the fourth period as SUNY Plattsburgh scored four times in the final seven minutes of play to break open a close game.

Scranton, which led by one at intermission, was led by senior attacker Gus Sturm (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) with three goals and sophomore midfielder Alec Mikrut (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) contributed a goal and an assist.

The Royals, now 5-3, also received a goal apiece from senior attacker Matt Tibbetts (West Hartford, Conn./Conard), junior attacker Will Mahle (Montgomery, NJ/Montgomery), and junior midfielder Michael Bernier (Wayne, NJ/Malverne Preparatory).

SUNY Plattsburgh converted two extra-man opportunities in the third period to take a 7-6 lead on goals by Damm and junior attacker James Read (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), before the Royals finally got untracked on a goal by Tibbetts set up senior midfielder John Gregitis (Wayne, NJ/St. Joseph’s Preparatory) with 14:18 left in the fourth period to tie it up at 7-7.

The Cardinals then scored three times—one each by senior midfielder Robbie Ashlaw (North Syracuse, NY/SUNY Potsdam), Duggan, and Damm—during a two-minute span to swing the momentum completely in their favor.

Senior goalkeeper Andrew Hauk (Sackets Harbor, NY/Lycoming College) made eight of his game-high 11 saves in the second half for SUNY Plattsburgh.  His counterpart, Royal sophomore Nicholas McKaba (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris), stopped seven shots.

The Royals led 3-1 after the first period before the Cardinals scored three straight goals to open the second stanza to take their first lead, 4-3.  Sturm then scored twice within a span of 18 seconds to ignite a 3-1 run that propelled Scranton to a 6-5 halftime lead.

Scranton held a 46-40 advantage in ground balls, but the Royals paid dearly for committing eight penalties, three of which the Cardinals converted into goals.

Royal junior midfielder Matt Finor (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South) won 14 of 21 face-off attempts today, including 10 of 13 in the first half.

Scranton returns to action this Wednesday, March 26, against Kean University in Union, New Jersey, at 7:00 p.m.

--ROYALS--