March 7, 2009
Box Score
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - In a game that was similar to last season's tight, back and forth contest, the Lafayette men's lacrosse team had its upset bid fall just short, 14-9, against No. 16 Navy on Saturday afternoon in front of nearly 2,500 fans.
Navy jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage on their home turf just over a minute into the contest. The Leopards responded quickly, as Stefan Bauer used a Spencer Philpot assist to knot the game at one.
After the Mids found the back of the net at the 12:14 mark of the opening quarter, Lafayette (2-2) bounced back just over two minutes later, as reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week recorded his first of three goals on the day to tie the game at two.
The next four minutes were controlled by Navy, as they went on a 3-0 second quarter run to push the lead to five (8-3). However, the Leopards again responded, notching two goals, both from Kevin Dunbar, in the final two minutes of the first half to climb back to 8-5 at halftime. The final goal of the first 30 minutes came with one second remaining on the clock.
Following a scoreless opening five minutes of the second half, Navy stretched its lead back to four at the 8:56 mark.
The Leopards came back, scoring three of the next four goals, a Perini tally from senior John Galassi along with an unassisted Dunbar goal and Bauer score off a Matt Mersky assist, to pull the Leopards back to within 10-8 going into the final 15 minutes.
Navy controlled the game from there, scoring the quarter's four of five goals. Perini tallied his third goal of the afternoon at the 7:00 mark, but an Evan Sullivan insurance goal with 5:15 remaining gave the Mids the 14-9 victory.
Senior Jeff Canfield led the Leopards in goal, totaling 13 saves and picking up six ground balls. Lafayette forced Navy keeper RJ Wickham to make 14 saves on the afternoon. Dunbar registered a career-high four goals while Mersky led the Leopards with two assists.
The Mids outshot the Leopards 47-35 and slim edge in face-offs (14-12).
The Leopards will return home and look to regroup next weekend when they host No. 20 Bucknell in their Patriot League home-opener. Game time is set for 1 p.m. on Rappolt Field and will be immediately followed by the women's lacrosse game.
