NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (March 21, 2019)  – Senior Dean Peluso and sophomore Ryan Gebhardt each totaled four goals and an assist to power No. 12/No. 13 Stevens Institute of Technology men's lacrosse over No. 14/No. 15 Christopher Newport University 14-9 Thursday in a matchup between nationally-ranked teams at Captains Turf Field.

Senior Max Bailey handed out four assists and classmate Nicholas Carnovale found the back of the net for the third straight game as the Ducks improved to 6-2. Stevens has won three straight. 

"I loved how we played tonight," said head coach Gene Peluso. "I thought we overcame some adversity in the second half to defeat a very good CNU team."

Junior Brendan Monteleone added two goals and an assist and sophomore Ryan Caplis contributed a goal and an assist as the Ducks' 14 goals matched the most allowed by Christopher Newport this season. Senior Eric Radbourne and freshman Matt Logan also scored to round out Stevens' scoring. Logan's fourth-quarter marker was the first of his collegiate career.

"I am proud to get a nice road win and we are excited to get back home for a few home games," Peluso offered.

Dylan Rice and Will Stockhausen each had a hat trick for Christopher Newport, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. The Captains dropped to 7-3, with all three setbacks coming against nationally-ranked opponents. It was the first-ever meeting between the programs.

Senior Carson White made nine saves to earn his sixth victory of the season. Scott McAneney stopped 14 shots for Christopher Newport. 

"The play of Carnovale was game-changing for us," Peluso said. "The defensive play from Jason Coyle and Aidan Hinphy was excellent and Carson turned away some really good shots by CNU."

Carnovale won the opening faceoff for the second straight goal. Peluso took the first shot of the game, firing high, but Stevens maintained possession. Bailey marshalled the offense and found Radbourne for his 14th goal of the year. A Brennan slashing penalty led to the first extra-man opportunity of the evening and Stockhausen converted, beating White on the Captains' first shot of the game to tie the game.

Peluso and Rice exchanged goals before Caplis beat McAneney for his seventh of the year. Peluso pushed the advantage to two at the end of the opening quarter with his second of the game. The Seaford, New York native added goals in the second and fourth quarters to complete his third hat trick of the season.

Monteleone and Carnovale scored nine seconds apart and Peluso added his third of the game as the Ducks scored five straight to open a 7-2 lead. Lucas Barry scored the first of his two goals in the game to slow down the Stevens attack, but Monteleone beat McAneney less than one minute later and Gebhardt netted a pair of goals as the Ducks built a 10-4 lead at the intermission. Gebhardt's second goal of the sequence came with 14 seconds left in the second period.

The third quarter began the same way the second one ended, with Gebhardt beating McAneney for another pair of goals to complete his hat trick. The Baldwinsville, New York native leads the team with 28 goals, including six hat tricks. Gebhardt is third in the Empire 8 Conference with 3.50 goals per game.

Christopher Newport rallied with four straight goals to pull within four, but the Stevens turnover took over, forcing three turnovers and a failed clear over the final 10 minutes to preserve the victory. White made a pair of saves, while Peluso and Logan beat McAneney to put the game out of reach. Rice completed his hat trick with seven seconds remaining to provide the final margin. 

Stevens outshot Christopher Newport 48-29, including a 15-7 advantage in the second quarter where the Ducks extended their lead to six. Christopher Newport's 29 attempts matched a season-low by a Stevens opponent this season and the Captains' 18 shots on goal are the second lowest. The Ducks countered with 28. Six different players registered five shots or more, with Gebhardt leading the way with a game-high nine. Frost led Christopher Newport with seven,

Defensively, Coyle matched a career-high four caused turnovers as Stevens forced 23 turnovers for the evening. Max Wayne and Phoenix Hines matched Coyle's efforts with four caused turnovers each as the Captains forced 19 Stevens miscues. The Ducks rank among the top-10 programs in the country in fewest turnovers per game, while the Captains were among the nation's leaders in caused turnovers per game.

The Ducks won the ground ball battle, scooping up 32 against the Captains' 29. Carnovale topped all players for the second straight game, picking up a season-high 11, while Logan and junior Bubba Brennan each added three. Rice picked up five to pace the home team.

Carnovale went 17-9 in the 'X' to lead Stevens' efforts in the faceoff circle. The 17 victories marked a new career-high for the Fairfield, New Jersey native. Taylor Iriondo had seven wins in the 'X' to lead Christopher Newport. 

Stevens was successful on 21 of its 23 clear attempts, while Christopher Newport was successful on 20 of its 26 attempts. Stevens ranks among the top 50 teams in Division III in clearing percentage. 

The Ducks did not score on either of its two extra-man opportunities, while the Captains converted two of their four man-up advantages.

Up Next: No. 12/No. 13 Men's Lacrosse returns home for the Empire 8 Conference opener against Utica on Mar. 23. Live stats and video links on StevensDucks.com. 

Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics         
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
Snapchat: ducks_athletics
#AllRise