March 28, 2009
Box Score
EMMITSBURG, Md. - The Leopards used goals from six different players, including a hat trick from Matt Mersky, to win a 10-8 decision over Mount St. Mary's in men's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon. With the score tied four-all at halftime, it was Lafayette who dominated in the second half, outscoring the Mount 6-4 en route to the victory.
The Leopards (3-5) came out on top of nearly every statistical category, including shots (39) and ground balls (43). Perhaps the most glaring advantage came in face-offs, in which the Leopards held a decisive 15-5 edge over Mount St. Mary's (1-5) with Cesar Munoz winning all 15.
Leopard goalie Jeff Canfield finished the afternoon with 10 saves, five in each half. The Lafayette defense, meanwhile, limited the Mount to just 11 second-half shots.
Mersky led the team with his three goals, bringing his season total to nine. Tom Perini and John Galassi also finished with multi-goal games at two scores apiece.
The first half was a dead heat, as both teams scored two goals in each of the opening two quarters. Lafayette netted the first and last goals of the first quarter but found itself trailing 4-2 after Mount St. Mary's scored the first two goals of the second quarter.
Stefan Bauer and Galassi sent the Leopards into halftime on a positive note, however, by scoring two unanswered goals. The Lafayette defense, meanwhile, kept the Mount off the scoreboard for the final 10 minutes of that quarter to keep it a tie game at the midway point.
Coming out of halftime, Mersky and Joe Howard kept Lafayette's scoring streak rolling with goals at the 13:10 and 7:02 marks of the third quarter. Ryan Hansen scored the Leopards' final goal of that quarter, and the first of his career, as the Leopards maintained a slim, one-goal edge (7-6) with 15 minutes still to play.
The Mount knotted the game at seven on a Mike Adkins goal at 11:29 but Lafayette rattled off three unanswered scores from three different players to make it 10-7 with less than four minutes remaining.
Mount St. Mary's cut that lead to two after Christian Kellett netted an unassisted goal at 1:06 but it was too little too late as the Leopards held on for the 10-8 victory.
Lafayette returns home on Tuesday to host Marist at 3:30 p.m.
