SALISBURY, Md. - The No. 1 Salisbury University
men's lacrosse team scored early and often as they took down
Capital Athletic Conference foe St. Mary's (Md.) College, 23-4,
Friday evening under the lights at Sea Gull Stadium before a crowd
of 1,196. The victory guaranteed SU the top-seed in next week's CAC
tournament.
Salisbury (14-0, 7-0 CAC) played its first home game in 17 days
and continued the record setting home winning streak of 67-0
since 2003. The Sea Gulls have won 37 games since the beginning of
last season and are 76-0 during the regular-season since 2003. SU
is 97-0 all-time in CAC play since 1995.
The maroon and gold scored the game's first four goals, in as
many minutes, as senior Matt
Hickman scored three unassisted goals
on his first three shots past freshman goalie JJ
Strombosky (eight saves). Senior Bruce Richardson
helped the Sea Gulls jump out to a quick lead as he scored
an unassisted goal 1:30 into the opening quarter.
Hickman finished with a game-high seven goals, for the
second time this season. He scored five goals in the first as the
Sea Gulls led 8-2. The sharp shooting attackman had a 10-point
game against York (Pa.) College, in the last home game for the
Gulls, on March 25.
Salisbury took a 13-2 lead into the half as the Sea Gulls were
in the midst of a 10-0 run where they held St. Mary's scoreless for
over 29 minutes.
The Gulls could do no wrong against the Seahawks (7-6,
5-2 CAC) as a pass from junior Kylor Berkman
deflected off of junior Stephen Krasco's stick
into the goal just 20 seconds into the second half.
Good fortune was not in short supply for the Gulls as several
role players and reserves got the opportunity to set some personal
firsts. Late in the second quarter, senior defenseman Ryan
Phillips scooped a ground ball off a SMC turnover, cleared
the midline and completed the play with his first
collegiate goal, in transition. Sophomore Scott
Rumford, like Phillips, recorded his first collegiate goal
as he scored off a pass from fellow sophomore Brian
Schuster. Junior transfer Ryan
Curran recorded his first multiple-goal game as a Sea Gull
with back-to-back goals late in the fourth quarter.
SU scored 31 points from 17 different Sea Gulls, many of
which showcased several great individual efforts. Freshman
Eric Krum's unassisted goal in the second quarter
was no different. His initial shot was denied by Strombosky
but Krum fought off two Seahawk defenders, scooped up the
rebound, and fired a quick shot while he was pushed to the
turf.
The game was not all offense as the Gulls caused 33 turnovers to
help out their goalies. Junior starter Zach
Krissoff (3-0) allowed just two goals and stopped
seven Seahawk shots in 39 minutes of work. Senior
Nick Fiorentino (one save) and junior Mike
Petti shared the remainder of the time in net as
they combined to hold SMC to two goals in the final 21
minutes.
Most statistical categories went in favor of Salisbury as the
Sea Gulls outshot SMC, 52-27, and out scooped the Seahawks, 40-25,
in ground balls. Salisbury was 3-for-5 in extra-man
situations while the Sea Gulls' man-down defense allowed St.
Mary's to convert only one of its five chances. Salisbury senior
Will Poletis even snuck in a man-down goal to
begin the fourth quarter.
St. Mary's was led by Josh Hostetler's two goals. On
the ensuing face-off after Hostetler's first goal, Salisbury
midfielder Ryan Finch won the face-off and bolted
down the field where he scored eight seconds later. The Seahawks
goalie Pat Simpson started the second half where he allowed 10
goals and made six saves. SMC won 17-of-30 face-offs against
Salisbury.
Salisbury will begin the 2008 CAC tournament at home on Monday,
April 14, against eighth-seed Hood College. SU beat the Blazers
29-5 back on March 5. The Sea Gulls have won all 13 conference
titles since it joined in 1995.
