SCRANTON, PA (April 6, 2022) -- Sophomore Matt McAree (Manhasset, N.Y. / Manhasset) scored a career-high six goals to lead the University of Scranton men's lacrosse team to a commanding 18-10 non-conference win over Montclair State University on Wednesday evening at Weiss Field. 

With the win, the Royals advance to 5-5 on the season and 3-3 at home. 

Scranton got things going early as senior Cole Lukasiewicz (Havertown, Pa. / Haverford) scored in the opening two minutes of the game off a feed from junior Chris Crapanzano (Basking Ridge, N.J. / Ridge). McAree followed up with his first score of the game just seconds later giving the Royals an early 2-0 lead with less than two minutes off the clock. 

The highlight of the night came at the 11:51 mark in the first quarter as junior Nick Donato (Langhorne, Pa. / Neshaminy) scored an absolute stunner of a goal, going behind his back and into the top right corner of the net. The Royals added two more to their tally and forced an early timeout by the Red Hawks in the middle stages of the first period. Following a pair of Montclair State goals coming out of the timeout, McAree notched his third goal of the game for Scranton to give them a 6-2 lead headed into the second period.

Lukasiewicz got thing rolling again in the second period has he added to the Royals' tally off an assist from junior Mitchell Kozak (Floral Park, N.Y. / Floral Park Memorial) in the opening minute of the quarter. Later on in the second quarter, McAree added three more goals to bring his tally to six on the day while junior Matt Solleder (Ramsey, N.J. / Don Bosco Prep) scored his first of the day. Scranton held a 12-4 advantage headed into halftime. 

The Red Hawks made an early second half push as they scored three straight goals at the beginning of the third period. The Royals answered with three staight goals of their own, as Kozak, Crapanzano and Lukasiewicz all found the back of the net for Scranton. Solleder and sophomore Alex Eglitis (Randolph, N.J. / Randolph) added to the tally for the Royals in the fourth period and the Scranton defense did the rest to secure a decisive 18-10 victory over Montclair State.

McAree's career day marks the first time a Royal has scored six goals in a game since his teammate Mike Bouhall (Lynbrook, N.Y. / Lynbrook) hit the mark back in 2019. Lukasiewicz notched his first hat trick of the season for Scranton. Freshman goalkeeper Evan Rosa (Weehawken, N.J. / Pennington School) continued his strong play in goal, making 19 saves on 27 shots faced. Eglitis led the Royals with eight ground balls in the game.

The University of Scranton men's lacrosse team returns to Landmark Conference action on Saturday at 1:00 PM when they host Susquehanna at Weiss Field.

--ROYALS--