Balanced Offense Attack And Stingy Defense Sends No. 5 Dowling Past No. 1 Men's Lacrosse, 8-7
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (April 10, 2010) – Junior midfielder James Johnston (Farmingville, N.Y.) tallied a game-high three goals for C.W. Post but it was not enough as Dowling College prevailed, 8-7, in East Coast Conference men's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon on Hickox Field.
The win improves Dowling to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play. The loss ends a 19-game win streak for the Pioneers as they dip to 10-1 overall and 5-1 in the ECC.
The Pioneers led 1-0 after the first quarter when junior attacker Nick Coric (Walnut Creek, Calif.) scored on a pass from senior midfielder Joe Meo (West Sayville, N.Y.) at 13:13.
Dowling responded in the second quarter with back-to-back goals scored within seconds of each other from senior midfielder Brandon Bergeren (Severn, Md.) at 13:37 and senior attacker Kyle O'Brien (Whitby, Ontario) at 13:28 to put the Golden Lions ahead, 2-1.
The Pioneers evened the score when Johnston scored his first goal at 12:32. Dowling went ahead again with a goal from sophomore midfielder Danny Abbene (Kings Park, N.Y.) at 9:40.
The final two minutes and change of the second quarter were in the control of the Pioneers as they put in two more goals from Johnston and junior midfielder Nick Lacagnina (Farmingville, N.Y.) and boosted their lead to 4-3 at the half.
Both teams played the final two quarters with abandon and fought hard for every possession. The Pioneers scored the first goal of the half when junior midfielder Mike Messina (Sayville, N.Y.) scored with 9:30 in the third. Dowling answered with a goal from junior attacker Redmond Killpack (Lewes, Del.) on an extra-man opportunity.
C.W. Post went up 6-4 after senior defender Richard Schmidt (Hicksville, N.Y.) scored his first goal of the season unassisted at 5:43.
Dowling returned fire and added four unanswered goals to take an 8-6 lead with 11:45 to play in the fourth.
The Pioneers recorded nine shots in the final frame but only scored on one goal coming from Johnston on a pass from Coric with 3:49. C.W. Post continued to fight in the game and had a man-up opportunity after a slashing call was made against the Golden Lions with 1:10 left on the clock. But Dowling's defense did not allow C.W. Post's offense to get a good shot off before time expired.
Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Dougherty (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) made 13 stops in goal for the Golden Lions to secure the win. O'Brien and Abbene each scored a pair of goals to lead Dowling's offense.
Junior Dan Orlando (South Hempstead, N.Y.) made 11 saves in goal for the Pioneers, including four in the fourth quarter.
C.W. Post outshot the Golden Lions, 34-28, and held a 44-32 advantage in ground balls. The Pioneers were 19 for 27 on clear attempts compared to Dowling, who was 24 for 31.
C.W. Post is back in action when it hosts Wheeling Jesuit University on Saturday at 12 p.m. on Hickox Field.