MONTCLAIR, N.J. – A 7-0 fourth-quarter run by the host Red Hawks of Montclair State University clinched the 19-8 non-conference win for the Red Hawks (3-2) over the Susquehanna University men's lacrosse team (0-2) on Saturday.
 
How It Happened
Montclair State began the game with five unanswered goals, including a pair from first-year Mike McCreery, to own a 5-0 lead with 7:35 to go in the first period. The River Hawks responded by rattling off four straight with two each from junior attackman Logan Frank (Sykesville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) and first-year midfielder Dominic Contella (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) to pull within one with 15 seconds left. The Red Hawks would get a last second goal to head into the second quarter up, 6-4.
 
The second stanza witnessed three goals in a three-minute span in the final six minutes of the half as MSU sandwiched a goal by sophomore midfielder Rob Swenson (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) to take an 8-5 lead into halftime.
 
Susquehanna came within two twice in the third period on goals by Swenson at 13:22 and senior captain Colton Dick (Owings, Md./Northern) at 6:23. The Red Hawks scored three of the final four goals in the third to stake a 12-8 advantage heading into the final quarter of the game.
 
Starting with the last goal of the third, Montclair State strung together an 8-0 run to put the game away. The Red Hawk defense limited the River Hawks to just two shots in the fourth while SU committed seven turnovers in the final 15 minutes.
 
Top Performers
Dick picked up his first points of his senior campaign, leading the team with four points on a goal and three assists. Contella notched his first collegiate points with two goals and an assist while Frank and Swenson both finished the game with two goals.
 
Junior defenseman Cole Palmer (Dover, Del./Dover) led the defensive effort with four ground balls and two caused turnovers while senior defenseman Michael Jentsch, Jr. (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) and sophomore midfielder Charles Braught IV (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) each had two caused turnovers as well. Senior captain Tyler Gross (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) matched his career-high with 14 saves.
 
It was another tough day in the office for the Susquehanna face-off specialists as sophomore Ryan Prum (Secane, Pa./Ridley), first-years Jared Tavernite (Milford, N.J./Delaware Valley Regional) and Garrett Laub (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley), and Braught combined for a 9-of-31 effort at the X.
 
For Salisbury, M. McCreery (4g, 1a) and sophomore Christian Boyle (3g, 2a) each finished with five points to lead the Red Hawks in their third consecutive win. Junior Kyle Matthews won 19-of-25 face-offs with eight ground balls while junior Matthew McLaren made six stops.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Shots – Susquehanna 23, Montclair State 62
• Saves – Susquehanna 14, Montclair State 6
• Turnovers – Susquehanna 26, Montclair State 20
• Clears – Susquehanna 17-28, Montclair State 17-19
• Ground Balls – Susquehanna 31, Montclair State 50
• Face Offs – Susquehanna 9-31, Montclair State 22-31
• Extra Man Opportunities – Susquehanna 0-1, Montclair State 2-6

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Mar. 31 vs. Scranton (0-0) – Selinsgrove, Pa. / Sassafras Multipurpose Field – 4:00 p.m.

 
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