Boxscore
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – With a Landmark Conference playoff spot on the line, the Susquehanna University men's lacrosse team knew what was at stake and posted a convincing, 16-6, victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Senior Day at Sassafras Fields.
The Crusaders (11-5, 3-2) locked up the No. 4 seed in the Landmark Conference tournament by controlling every aspect of the game against USMMA (4-11, 0-5). SU outshot USMMA, 41-26, scooped up more ground balls (37 to 23), and executed three more clears in one more opportunity (19-for-22, 16-for-21).
The main reason for the one-sided game came at the face-off "X", as the Crusaders held an 18-7 advantage. Senior Ryan Oakes (North Yarmouth, Maine/Cheverus) went 15-for-20 in face-offs and scooped up a game-high 10 groundballs. Oakes also scored a goal and dished out two assists.
SU never trailed in the game and only led, 1-1, after the first quarter, but the Crusaders tallied seven goals in both the second and third quarters to put the game out of reach.
Juniors Billy Spack (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) and Luke Delavan (Madison, N.J./Madison) combined for 10 points. Spack netted a game-high five goals, while Delavan registered four goals and handed out an assist on the final Spack goal.
Eight other players on the SU squad had at least one point in the win. Highlighting that group of eight, junior Tim Pastore (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) totaled four points with two goals and two assists.
Sophomore Marcus Cheatham (Reisterstown, Md./Loyola HS) picked up seven groundballs and scored a goal, while freshman Pat Brogan (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) recorded two points with a goal and an assist.
Junior Matt Weiner (Bound Brook, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan Regional) and freshman Pete Doelp (Essex Falls, N.J./West Essex) both chipped in two points. Weiner had a goal and assist, while Doelp assisted on two goals.
A trio of goalies played for SU, led by junior Jordan Daney (Wynnewood, Pa./Lower Merion), who earned the victory with five saves in 47:07 of action. He was replaced by junior Anthony Maiorella (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) who stopped two shots in nearly seven minutes in net. Sophomore Blake Middendorf (Wayne, Pa./Radnor) made three saves in the final six minutes.
Next Game: Landmark Conference semi-finals vs. TBA
