Selinsgrove, Pa. – Sophomore attackman Colton Dick (Owings, Md./Northern) continued his hot streak Saturday afternoon with his fourth consecutive multiple-point performance as the Susquehanna University men's lacrosse team opened up Landmark Conference action. Despite 18 saves from senior captain Dylan Abplanalp (Grasonville, Md./Kent Island), four goals from Dick and a 5-3 halftime lead, Susquehanna (4-6, 0-1 LC) dropped its league opener, 15-7, to the University of Scranton (5-4, 1-0 LC).
 
Susquehanna 7, Scranton 15
 
How It Happened

• The first quarter was tight as each goalie made great saves, combining for 10 stops (Abplanalp had six) in the first 15 minutes. Freshman attackman Jack McLaughlin (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) put the River Hawks on the board first but it would be Scranton taking a 2-1 edge into the second frame. After McLaughlin completed a pass from senior captain Jake Smolokoff (Oceanport, N.J./Red Bank Regional) at 7:22, the Royals netted the equalizer at 3:37 off the stick of Jalen Holmes before Daniel Mallay would give the visitors a one-goal lead with 26 seconds on the clock.
• Susquehanna went on to score the first three goals of the second period, including a pair from Dick, to stake a 4-2 margin 6:50 left in the half. Michael Elefonte, the Landmark's leading goal scorer, notched the first of his four goals, at 3:30 to pull the Royals within one. Dick would strike once again a minute later to give the River Hawks the 5-3 advantage at halftime.
• It was all Scranton in the second half as the visitors rattled off 11 straight to boast a 14-5 advantage with 6:12 remaining in the game. Elefonte notched a hat trick in the 11-0 run while Dolan and Mallay each had two for the Royals.
• Dick ended the River Hawks' scoring drought of over 27 minutes with his fourth of the day at 5:24. Sophomore midfielder Tyler Humphrey (Andover, N.J./Pope John XXIII) picked up the final tally of the game at 2:17 for his sixth of the season.

 
Inside the Box Score

• SU edged the Royals in face-off wins as midfielders Ryan Bucher (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) and Joe Acquaviva (Wyckoff, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) combined for 13-of-25 at the X. Bucher went 7-of-13 with four ground balls while Acquaviva was 6-of-12 with two loos ball pickups.
• Scranton outshot the River Hawks, 50-29, and won the ground ball battle, 42-30.
• Susquehanna's transition game struggled this afternoon as the River Hawks were just 14-of-22 on clears. The hosts committed 20 turnovers as Scranton caused half of them.

 
Top Performers

• Dick finished with a season-best four goals for the third time this season while Smolokoff had two helpers.
• Sophomore long-pole midfielder Michael Jentsch, Jr. (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) paced the team with a career-best five ground balls.
• Abplanalp came up with 18 stops and two ground balls in 53:48 minutes of action before sophomore Tyler Gross (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) finish out the game with a save and a goal against.
• Elefonte paced the Royals with seven points on four goals and three assists while Shayne Fallon made nine saves in Scranton's third straight win.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Mar. 27 vs. Misericordia (3-3) – Sassafras Field – 4:00 p.m.
• Mar. 30 at Drew (1-8, 0-0 LC) – Madison, N.J. – Landmark game – 1:00 p.m.

 
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