FREDERICK, Md. – The Hood College men's lacrosse team honored its Senior class by earning the program's first ever victory over Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth opponent Widener University in a 10-8 barn burner.
Inside the Box Score
- Robbie Wiley (York, Pa./Central York) led the Blazers in points with five goals in the game.
- Jay Lanigan (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack) had four points on the day, scoring twice and assisting on two goals.
- Lucas Strand (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) scooped up nine ground balls and went 12-20 at the faceoff X.
- Nino Rizzolino (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) was the leading factor of the Blazer defense causing five turnovers and picking up five ground balls in the match.
- Calvin Morris (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) made 15 saves between the pipes after 60 minutes of gametime.
How it Happened
- Hood opened the match's scoring as Wiley took an alley dodge past the Pride's defenders and netted his first on the day. Widener responded with two shots and scores of their own as the team gained its one and only lead of the game 2-1. Just forty seconds after the Pride goal Wiley found the back of the net once again to tie things up at 2. With two and a half minutes left in the period Lanigan joined in on the fun and scored his first on the day and 100th career point after earning himself a one-on-one battle with the Widner goalkeeper. Then with little time left in the first Lanigan scored his second after a passing David Lubrano (Middletown, Del./Appoquinimink) found him open on the backside.
- The second quarter began with both defensive units showing great prowess as the first goal of the period would not be scored until just after the seven-minute mark. Widener suffered a slashing penalty that led to a man up goal scored by none other than Wiley. Wiley then scored his fourth goal of the day a minute later after receiving a pass from Lanigan on a fastbreak goal, which was initiated by an over the head check by Rizzolino. After going scoreless this quarter, the Pride finally managed to net the team's third goal courtesy of Luke Shimko who took advantage of his team's successful clear. Then with two minutes to go until halftime the Blazer defenseman Brennan Mckeown headlined another fastbreak goal as he successfully cleared the ball to the offensive side of the field and took a strike past the Widener goalie. With McKeown's goal Hood now lead 7-3 heading into halftime.
- With hopes of turning the inevitable outcome of this game around the Pride's Matt Buckely opened the first minute of second half with his first and only goal of the day. Two minutes later Wiley netted his fifth taking advantage of Widener's unsettled defense with another fastbreak goal. Speaking of taking advantage the Pride then returned the favor taking advantage of a man-up opportunity that led to a goal by Mike Kala'i. Then in the sixth minute of the quarter Isiac Nafziger (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) took a slick dodge from behind the goal and scored his first and only goal of the day to put Hood up 9-5. Finally, the Blazers' very own Connor Flok (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) put Hood up 10-5 doubling the Pride's score with two minutes and forty-five seconds to go in the quarter. Going into the fourth and final quarter of play the Blazers led by five.
- With a comfortable five-point cushion the Blazers essentially tried to play keep away from the Pride as time was in the team's favor. With thoughts of a comeback bid Widener managed to tack on three more goals during the quarter to cut Hood's lead down to two. However, time would be the ultimate factor in this matchup and as Widener's surge came up too little and too late the Blazers would be named victorious on Senior Day with a final score of 10-8 Hood.
For the Opponent
- Luke Shimko totaled for three goals and a ground ball for Widener.
- Nicholas Knepp and Matt Buckley both scored once and assisted on a goal in the game.
- Keegan Billie ended the day saving 10 shots in goal after 60 minutes of playtime.
Analysis
- Widener just barely outshot Hood, going 42-39.
- Hood edged Widener in the faceoff battle 12-10.
- The Blazers had a 30-25 edge in ground balls.
Notes
- Hood improves to 8-3 (1-2), while Widener falls to 3-10 (2-1).
- Before the game, Hood honored seniors Rio Muldoon (Prince Frederick, Md./DeMatha Catholic), Brendan Smith (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area Senior High School), Robbie Wiley (York, Pa./Central York), Latif Yacoubou Adam (Eldersburg, Md./Century), Salum Matope (Silver Spring, Md./Northwood), James Fay (Howell, N.J./Howell), and JT Hille (Ship Bottom, N.J./Southern Regional).
Up Next
- The Blazers will face the Lions of Albright College in Reading, Pa. on Wednesday, April 16.
