NEWBURGH, N.Y. – The Husson University men's lacrosse team used a dominant fourth quarter to turn a tight game into a decisive victory, defeating Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.), 10-5, on Sunday afternoon.
Husson (6-2) came out aggressive in the opening quarter, generating multiple early shot attempts before breaking through at the 9:24 mark when sophomore Brian Peabody scored the game's first goal. The Eagles doubled their lead just over two minutes later on a man-up opportunity, as sophomore Dominic Hollenkamp finished a feed from sophomore Taylor Schwalje to make it 2-0.
Mount Saint Mary (2-6) answered with a pair of goals to even the score, but Husson regained the lead late in the quarter when freshman Alek Duprey followed his own shot and buried the rebound with 1:09 remaining. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Knights responded just seconds later to send the game into the second quarter tied at 3-3.
The hosts grabbed their first lead early in the second quarter, but Husson responded midway through the period. Senior Kiernan Field tied the game with an unassisted goal at 4-4, and the Eagles regained the lead in the final minute of the half when junior Owen Giorgio converted a pass from Field with 34 seconds remaining to give Husson a 5-4 advantage at the break.
Husson extended its lead early in the third quarter as Field struck again, this time off an assist from freshman Gabe Robinson, pushing the score to 6-4. Mount Saint Mary trimmed the deficit to one with a man-up goal late in the quarter, but the Eagles' defense came up with several key stops, including multiple saves from senior Odin Burk, to preserve the narrow lead heading into the fourth.
The Eagles took complete control in the final 15 minutes, outscoring the Knights 4-0 in the fourth quarter. Schwalje opened the scoring in the frame with an unassisted goal before Robinson added another off a feed from Field. Giorgio extended the lead with his second goal of the game with just over a minute remaining, and Duprey capped the scoring with 14 seconds left, finishing a pass from Field to seal the 10-5 win.
Field led the offensive effort with five points on two goals and three assists, while Duprey and Giorgio each recorded two goals. Hollenkamp, Peabody, Robinson and Schwalje also scored for the Eagles, while Giorgio and Hollenkamp posted six and five ground balls respectively.
Defensively, Burk earned the win in goal with eight saves as Husson held Mount Saint Mary scoreless in the fourth quarter. The Eagles outshot the Knights 40-34, including a 25-13 advantage in shots on goal, while forcing 23 turnovers and converting on one of three extra-man opportunities.
The Eagles were also efficient on clear attempts, converting all 17 they had, while committing just 16 turnovers for the game.
Husson closes out its back-to-back in New York tomorrow when it takes on SUNY Cobleskill in North Atlantic Conference play at 2 p.m.
