Royals Lock Up #3 Seed In Landmark Tournament By Downing Catholic University, 13-7, Saturday Afternoon At Fitzpatrick Field
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| Matt Finor | Chris Sumpter |
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| Pat Farrell | Tim Cleary |
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| Ryan Millard | Dillon McInerney |
Box
Score
Photo Gallery (courtesy of Dan
Ceccacci)
SCRANTON, Pa.—The University of Scranton men’s
lacrosse team left nothing to chance in its Landmark Conference
regular-season finale against Catholic University Saturday
afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.
The Royals not only needed a win to qualify for the Landmark
tournament, but they needed to do so by three-or-more goals in
order to win the tiebreaker with Catholic and Susquehanna
University in the battle for the final two spots.
Behind a dominating performance by freshman face-off specialists
Matt Finor (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock
South), a 7-save effort from freshman goalkeeper
Chris Sumpter (Crofton, Md./South River), and
a combined 7-goal, 4-assist effort from senior midfielder
Mike Rufo (Broomall, Pa./Haverford School) and
junior midfielder Dillon McInerney (Hawthorne, NJ/Bergen
Catholic), Scranton dismantled the Cardinals, 13-7.
The Royals bolted out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, built up
a 9-2 halftime lead, and were never seriously threatened in the
second half. With the win, Scranton improves to 9-6 overall
and 3-3 in the Landmark Conference.
Finor kept Scranton in control throughout the game by winning 17
of 21 face-off attempts and Sumpter, making the first start of his
career in just his second game in goal, got plenty of help from
defenders Pat Farrell (Jamison, Pa./St. Joseph’s
Preparatory), Tim
Cleary (Shrewsbury, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) and
Ryan Millard (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris
Central). This trio continually frustrated the
Cardinals on the offensive end of the field, limiting them to only
10 shots in the first half and pressuring them into 16 turnovers
for the game.
The Royals, who held a 51-25 advantage in shots, also received two
goals apiece from junior attacker Taylor Nelson (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown
East) and senior attacker Kyle
Frank (Glen Arm, Md./Boys’ Latin) and one each
from sophomore midfielder John
Gregitis (Wayne, Pa./St. Joseph’s Preparatory)
and senior midfielder Matt
Glenn (Jamison, Pa./Central Bucks East).
Scranton also took advantage of the penalty-prone Cardinals,
converting 4 of 8 extra-man opportunities.
Catholic, which fell to 9-5 overall and 3-3 in the Landmark
Conference, was led by sophomore midfielder Sean Cummins
(Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) with two goals.
The Royals are now the number three seed and will face Drew
University this Wednesday, May 2, in Madison, New Jersey, while
Catholic, the number four seed, will meet top-seeded Goucher
College in Towson, Maryland. The winners advance to next
Saturday’s championship game at the site of the highest seed
remaining, with the eventual champion earning an automatic bid to
the NCAA Division III championships. Scranton is defending
Landmark Conference champion.
--ROYALS--
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