SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Susquehanna University men's lacrosse team saw their two-game win streak halted Wednesday afternoon despite a career-best 25 saves from senior captain Tyler Gross (Magnolia, Del./Caeser Rodney). Susquehanna (2-5, 2-3 LC) succumbed to a 22-8 setback at the hands of The Catholic University of America Cardinals (3-0, 3-0 LC) in Landmark Conference action.
 
How It Happened
Catholic owned the first period, boasting a 7-0 lead with two minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The Cardinals scored their first two goals 26 seconds apart in the first minute of the game. First-year attackman Kobi Buffa (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) put the River Hawks on the scoreboard with his fifth goal of the season off an assist from fellow classmate Cameron McKee (Bloomingbury, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) with 1:34 left in the first.
 
The Cardinals stretched their advantage to 11-1 with 5:35 left in the first half before sophomore midfielder Jake Turner (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) notched an unassisted goal with 3:54 to go. Junior midfielder Collin Stein sent the visitors into halftime with a 12-2 lead with an unassisted score of his own with five ticks on the clock.
 
Catholic began the third stanza with five straight goals to boost its advantage to 17-2 at 8:50 before the River Hawks rattled off five unanswered goals of their own to pull within 10 with 13:18 remaining in the game.
 
The visitors ended the game on a 5-1 run to lock up their third straight victory.
 
Top Performers
McKee and Turner were the offensive leaders for Susquehanna with a goal and two assists a piece while Buffa finished with a goal and one helper. First-year Jared Tavernite (Milford, N.J./Delaware Valley Regional) matched his season-best of nine face-off wins as Tavernite went 9-of-18 at the X while scooping up a game- and season-high seven ground balls.
 
Defensemen Michael Jentsch, Jr. (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) and Michael Nevins (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) each caused two turnovers to pace the River Hawk defense. Gross added three ground balls to his career-high 25 saves.
 
Senior midfielder Kevin Crowley had himself a day with seven goals while junior attackman Sean Baudo tallied four goals and two assists. Junior Mike McShea went 18-of-26 at the X with a game-best seven ground balls. Sophomore goalie Nic Pezone posted a dozen stops with three ground balls.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Shots – Susquehanna 41, Catholic 64
• Saves – Susquehanna 25, Catholic 12
• Turnovers – Susquehanna 28, Catholic 17
• Clears – Susquehanna 25-32, Catholic 23-25
• Ground Balls – Susquehanna 29, Catholic 57
• Face Offs – Susquehanna 12-32, Catholic 20-32
• Extra Man Opportunities – Susquehanna 1-9, Catholic 1-3

 
Up Next for the River Hawks
Apr. 17 at Scranton (3-1, 3-1 Landmark) – Scranton, Pa. / Weiss Field – 1:00 p.m.
 
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