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Photo gallery (courtesy of Ron & Denise Saxton)
WASHINGTON, DC—Senior midfielder Will Mahle (Montgomery, NJ/Montgomery) scored a career-high tying four goals to lead The University of Scranton men’s lacrosse team to a come-from-behind 8-5 victory over Catholic University in the Landmark Conference opener for both teams Sunday afternoon.
Mahle scored three times in the second half as the Royals overcame a 4-1 deficit to win their fourth straight game to improve to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference. The loss dropped the Cardinals to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in the Landmark.
Scranton also received a goal and an assist from sophomore midfielder Nick Mullery (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson), a goal apiece from senior attackman Anthony Lombardo (Mendham, NJ/Mendham), junior midfielder Josh Kasman (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) and sophomore midfielder John Sheridan (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood), and an assist each from junior midfielder Brad Elkin (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Preparatory) and sophomore attackman Jake Haimson (Montville, NJ/Montville).
Sophomore midfielder Victor Licata (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) led Catholic with two goals, freshman midfielder Jonathan Curran (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) had a goal and an assist, and sophomore attackman Tim Keith (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and freshman attackman Samuel Montgomery (Knoxville, Tenn./Webb School) scored a goal apiece.
For the second straight game, the Royals put the clamps down defensively after falling behind early. This time, Scranton held Catholic to only one goal in the second half after holding King’s to just one goal over the final three periods of play in last Wednesday’s 8-5 win at Fitzpatrick Field.
The Cardinals took their last lead on a goal by Licata with 5:46 left in the third period before Scranton dominated the fourth period, tying it up on Mahle’s goal off of a play set up by Mullery with 8:07 remaining and scoring three times in the final six minutes on goals by Kasman, Lombardo, and Mahle to set the final score. For the year, the Royals have now out-scored their opponents 30-17 in the second half.
Senior midfielder Matt Finor (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South) continues to be a dominating presence in the face-offs for the Royals, winning 12 of 16 today, including 8 of 9 in the second half alone. His ability to keep Scranton on offense resulted in the Royals holding a 21-13 advantage in shot attempts in the second half after the Cardinals enjoyed a 19-11 margin in the first half. For the season, Finor is now 84-for-118 (71.2 percent) in face-offs.
Royal junior goalkeeper Nicholas McKaba (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris) made seven saves today while Cardinal junior goalkeeper Harrison Holak (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) stopped 11 shots. Scranton, which converted 1 of 4 extra-man opportunities, also received two caused turnovers from Elkin and freshman midfielder Conor Carey (Long Beach, NY/Chaminade).
Today’s win was the first by Scranton over Catholic in Washington, DC, since a 12-10 victory on April 30, 2011.
The Royals will return to action this Tuesday, March 17, against SUNY Oswego beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field. The game is open to the public and admission is free.
--ROYALS--
