CORTLAND, N.Y. (May 14, 2011) – Despite a superb 16-save effort from junior goalie Eric Yando, eighth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology fell to No. 4 SUNY Cortland, 10-3, in the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship on Saturday night at the Cortland Stadium Complex. Stevens ends a phenomenal 2011 season with an overall record of 16-3 which is tied for the most wins in program history. Cortland, who was led by five goals from senior Jay DiStefano, will advance to the quarterfinals of the national tournament against defending champion Tufts University on Wednesday.
The Red Dragons possessed the ball for nearly the entire first quarter but the Stevens defense hung tough to keep the team in the game. DiStefano put Cortland on top 1-0 1:12 into the action after the Red Dragons won the game's opening face-off. Cortland made it a two-goal game with a score from senior midfielder Neal Hopps (Akwesasne, N.Y.), but the Ducks made the most of their late chances with two of the opening period's final three markers.
After a failed clear from Cortland, the Ducks were able to take it down the field and get on the board on a goal from junior attack Kevin Rose who put away a nice pass from junior attack Alex Hofrichter.
The Red Dragons made it 3-1 before senior midfielder Brandon Faubert won the ensuing face-off and took it the all the way in for the score with 20 seconds left in the quarter.
The defenses flexed their muscles for the first nine-plus minutes of the second quarter before the Red Dragons were able to get the lead back to two with a man-up goal after a bizarre penalty called on Yando after the junior made a brilliant save one-on-one with freshman attack Marc Panneton (Niskauna, N.Y.).
Stevens had several chances to bring the lead back to one but were unable, and the Red Dragons scored two times in the final minute to take a 6-2 lead into the locker room. Junior Greg Wright (Irondequoit, N.Y.) and Hopps had the tallies for Cortland.
Yando played well in the first for Stevens, making 11 saves as the Ducks were outshot 36-10 and Cortland held a 15-12 advantage in ground balls.
The Red Dragons scored their seventh of the game just eight seconds into the half and then again with 1:16 left in the quarter to take a commanding 8-2 lead into the fourth with both tallies coming from DiStefano.
Faubert assisted a man-up tally from senior midfielder Chris Laurita for the Ducks' first goal of the second half 4:39 into the fourth, but Cortland was able to tally the last two scores of the game for the final margin.
Faubert led Stevens with two points on a goal and an assist, with Rose, Laurita, and Hofrichter each ending with a point. Junior defender Matt Marks paced the Stevens defense with a team-high three caused turnovers and six ground balls. Faubert, Rose, Hofrichter, and Laurita had three ground balls apiece.
Cortland ended with a 54-25 edge in shots and a 32-25 advantage in ground balls. The Red Dragons (16-2) won 10 of the 17 face-offs.
Hoops and DiStefano had four and five goals, respectively. Senior midfielder Chris DeLuca (Sayville, N.Y.) won 9-of-12 face-offs he took and ended with a game-high seven ground balls.
