SALISBURY, Md. - The No. 1 Salisbury University
men's lacrosse team advanced to the Capital Athletic Conference
championship game for the 10th consecutive season thanks to
a 20-7 semifinal victory Thursday over fifth-seed York (Pa.)
College.
Salisbury (16-0), the top-seed, was dominant in the first
half as the Sea Gulls scored eight of the first nine goals to begin
the game and outscored the Spartans 5-0 in the second quarter as
the maroon and gold led 13-2 at the half.
The Sea Gulls improve to 99-0 all-time in CAC play since they
joined the conference in 1995. Salisbury has won 39 straight games
since the beginning of the 2007 season and is 69-0 at home since
2003.
Salisbury will host the CAC championship on Sunday, April 20, at
1 p.m. as the Sea Gulls welcome No. 9 Villa Julie College to
Sea Gull Stadium. The second-seed Mustangs (12-3) defeated
sixth-seed University of Mary Washington, 15-5, in Thursday's other
semifinal game. Salisbury and Villa Julie last met on April 5 where
the Sea Gulls pulled out a 13-12 road victory. The Sea Gulls have
won 13 CAC championships, every one since they joined the
conference. The CAC added a postseason tournament in 1999.
Senior Greg Titus led the Gulls in scoring as
he recorded six goals, four in the first half, as he finished a lot
of goals right on the crease. All six of Titus' goals were
assisted. Senior Kyle Burto and sophomore
Jake DeLillo (one goal) each finished with a
game-high three assists and both assisted Titus twice. Titus scored
two back-to-back goals, within 37 seconds of each other, early in
the third quarter to cap off his seven-goal game. Titus is second
on the team with 40 goals and third with 44 points.
Senior Matt Hickman, the CAC Men's Lacrosse
Athlete of the Week, continued his hot streak with three goals and
two assists. He has tallied 24 points in the last three games for
Salisbury. Hickman followed Titus' lead with two back-to-back
goals, within 49 seconds of each other, right after Titus' two
goals early in the third.
Salisbury outshot York 49-29 as the Sea Gulls won 18-of-30
face-offs. The Sea Gulls scooped up 53 ground balls and caused 28
of York's 47 turnovers. SU struggled on extra-man opportunities as
it was 0-for-3, only the fourth time this season the Gulls did
not score one man-up goal, while York went 1-for-5.
The Sea Gulls were solid on defense as York only cleared
24-of-41 attempts. Junior Zach Krissoff (three
saves) earned his fourth victory of the season as he played the
opening half. Senior Nick Fiorentino (five
saves) finished out the game in between the pipes for the Gulls.
York goalies Matt Keeler (five saves) and Chris Collins (eight
saves) each played a half as well.
The maroon and gold had 15 different players record at
least one point in the game. York was led by Ryan
McNicholas (two goals), Josh Gamble (two goals) and Chris Norman
(one goal, one assists) combined for six of the Spartan's
eight total points.
