HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 15, 2017) – Five different players scored as the Stevens Institute of Technology men's lacrosse team built a 5-0 lead en route to a 12-6 Empire 8 Conference victory over St. John Fisher Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. The victory improved Stevens' record to 10-3 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the Empire 8.
The 5-0 start in league play is the best start for men's lacrosse since the Ducks went a perfect 9-0 in league play in 2007.
Prior to the game, Coach Peluso and staff honored the nine members of the Men's Lacrosse Class of 2017.
"The best part of today was honoring our seniors and their parents," Peluso said. "The seniors have made such a tremendous impact on our program over the past four years and have been excellent student-athletes and community members. The senior parents have also made a tremendous impact on our program as well, and it was great to honor them today."
Three players each recorded three points for the Ducks. Sophomore
Eric Radbourne led the team with three goals and senior
Connor McKeon recorded two goals and an assist. Sophomore
Max Bailey led all players with three assists. Junior
Tommy Dawson and sophomore
Dean Peluso each had two goals and freshman
Brendan Monteleone, senior
Tim Leahey and junior
John Boutureira added one goal each. Senior
Jan Schoonen had one assist to round out the stevens scoring.
Nick Papayanakos had three goals to lead the Cardinals, who fell to 7-6 overall and 2-3 in Empire 8 play.
"I thought we got a solid game from our defense," Peluso added. "I thought
Jan Schoonen did a great job in defense and in transition offense. I was happy with the game that
Carson White played in goal."
Defensively, the senior trio of Schoonen,
Connor Towne and
Chris Contino each caused two turnovers as the Ducks forced nine on the afternoon. Sophomore
Nicholas Carnovale led all players with a career-high 10 grounds balls and went 15-for-19 in the faceoff circle. The Ducks held a 39-30 edge on ground balls and went 15-5 in the circle.
"The best performance of the day was
Nicholas Carnovale in the faceoffs," Peluso reflected. "[He did an excellent job for us today. It was great to know that we would get the ball."
Stevens outshot Fisher, 40-29, including 11-3 in the first quarter. Stevens was 13-for-16 on clear attempts, while Fisher was 17-of-20.
Carson White earned the victory for Stevens, making 7 saves. Despite making 12 saves, Tanner Swan suffered the loss.
After a back-and-forth battle,
Dean Peluso opened the game's scoring with his 13th of the year, beating Swan after a great individual move. The sophomore's marker would be the only tally in the opening quarter, even though Stevens attempted 11 shots.
The tide would turn in the second quarter, when the Ducks struck for three goals over a 3:00 stretch to grab control of the game. Dawson's 32nd goal started the run. Boutureira would follow just eighty seconds later and Monteleone would push the lead to four to close the stretch.
Connor McKeon's goal pushed the advantage to 5-0 before St. John Fisher was able to get on the board on Andrew Rosso's goal with the man advantage.
Tommy Dawson beat Swan with 19 seconds remaining in the first half to give the Ducks a commanding 6-1 lead at the intermission.
Coming out of halftime, the teams alternated goals before Rosso's second goal of the game trimmed the Stevens lead to 8-4. Peluso and Papayanakos exchanged goals to close the third quarter with the Ducks comfortably in front 9-5.
Up next: Stevens rounds out the home portion of its schedule with an Empire 8 matchup with Utica on Wednesday. "We are happy to get another win in conference, but our focus is now on Wednesday's game," Peluso shared.
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