GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Despite a team-high 13 saves from junior Cameron Dorfman (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip), the RV Mercy University Men's Lacrosse Team dropped a hard-fought 11-8 decision at two-time defending National Champion No. 1 Adelphi University on Wednesday night at Motamed Field.
The Mavericks (5-4) have dropped three of their last four games and fall to the Panthers (8-0) for the fourth straight year. The three-goal margin of victory for Adelphi over Mercy is their smallest margin of victory in eight games this season.
Mercy started the game on the front foot by winning the opening faceoff, which led to a series of successful plays culminating in senior Devon Duchnowski's (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) goal, assisted by senior Matthew Magyar (Floral Park, N.Y./Wingate University), at 11:51. Adelphi quickly responded with a goal from Michael Durnin, leveling the score. However, the Mavericks regained momentum as sophomore Cole Hunsberger (Waterloo, Ontario/Grand River Collegiate Institute) scored with an assist from Duchnowski to give Mercy a 2-1 lead at the 7:35 mark.
Adelphi managed to equalize again through Vincent McDermott's effort, but the Mavericks maintained their offensive pressure. Duchnowski found the back of the net once more at 5:44, giving Mercy a 3–2 lead. The first quarter concluded with the Mavericks holding onto this advantage.
Adelphi initiated the second quarter with a strong offensive push, scoring twice within the first minute and a half. Mercy's defense, led by Dorfman, responded with multiple saves, including stopping shots from Ries Bower and Carter Linkletter, maintaining a close contest.
Despite several offensive opportunities, the Mavericks were unable to convert during the quarter. Key defensive efforts, such as caused turnovers by senior Michael Corbo (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) and sophomore Liam Neimeth (Farmingville, N.Y./Belmont Abbey College), kept the pressure on Adelphi. The quarter concluded with Mercy trailing 4–3.
Mercy began the third quarter assertively with sophomore Michael Mitrano (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) winning the faceoff and Hunsberger quickly scoring with an assist from Neimeth, tying the game at 4–4. Adelphi retook the lead with a Danny Fisenne goal at the 10:34 mark. Magyar later tied the game at 5-5 with 7:55 left in the quarter after a Hunsberger assist.
The Mavericks continued to press, with junior Christopher Bergersen (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) scoring to give Mercy a 6–5 lead. Despite a strong defensive effort, including saves by Dorfman, Adelphi equalized the score at 6–6 with a late goal by Fisenne. The quarter concluded with the teams locked in a tie, setting up a closely contested final quarter.
The fourth quarter began with Adelphi's Michael Durnin scoring to give the Panthers a 7-6 lead with 12:29 left. Mercy quickly responded with graduate student Aidan Babnik (Carmel, N.Y./Long Island University) scoring his first goal of the season, assisted by Hunsberger, to tie the game again at 7-7 with 9:58 remaining.
Adelphi regained control with goals from Kyle Lewis and Durnin, taking a 9-7 lead with 8:17 on the clock. Mercy countered as Magyar found the net, bringing the Mavericks to within one, 9-8, with 3:14 remaining. However, Adelphi maintained its lead with further goals, including one from Noah Gibson that made it 10-8 at the 2:05 mark. Braden Donnellan capped off the scoring with a goal at the 1:47 mark to give Adelphi an 11-8 lead. The Panthers held the Mavericks scoreless for the remainder of the game to escape with the win.
Mercy was led by Hunsberger who had a game-high-tying four points on two goals and two assists and by Duchnowski who had two goals and an assist. Magyar had two goals and an assist and Bergersen and Babnik each had a goal. Neimeth dished out an assist and had a team-high five ground balls with two caused turnovers. Corbo recorded two caused turnovers and three ground balls and sophomore Nicholas Filocamo (Levittown, N.Y./Island Trees) had a game-high three caused turnovers with three ground balls. Mitrano went 11-of-21 on faceoffs with two ground balls and Dorfman made 13 saves to take the loss.
Adelphi was led by Durnin who had a game-high four goals and by Christian Tomei who made a game-high 16 saves to earn the win.
Adelphi held a 42-36 edge in shots and shots on goal were tied at 24-24. Mercy held a 30-29 edge in ground balls and Mercy went 11-of-23 on faceoffs.
Head Coach Ryan MacSpadyen and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, April 4th when they play Roberts Wesleyan at 12 p.m.
