DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by 17 different Mavericks recording a point and 14 Mavericks recording a caused turnover, the No. 13 Mercy University Men's Lacrosse Team earned a 20-2 win over Caldwell University on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (4-1) defeat the Cougars (0-3) in the schools' first-ever meeting.
Mercy opened the first quarter with a strong performance, capitalizing early with a goal from sophomore Kyle Freyer (Syracuse, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) at 13:26. Sophomore Michael Mitrano (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) quickly followed with another score after winning the ensuing faceoff, demonstrating a rapid offensive surge. The Mavericks maintained its momentum as senior Matthew Magyar (Floral Park, N.Y./Wingate University) extended the lead to 3-0 at 11:25.
Mercy continued to pressure Caldwell, with senior Jack Agres (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) adding back-to-back goals from sophomore Cole Hunsberger (Waterloo, Ontario/Grand River Collegiate Institute) to make it 5-0 with 4:13 on the clock. Senior Connor Abrahall (Holtsville, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) later made it 6-0, off a junior Justin Ortiz (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) assist.
As the quarter progressed, Mercy's offensive efficiency was evident with additional goals from freshman Dean Kott (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) and junior Dillon Osorio (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Saint Anthony's). The quarter concluded with a final goal from Magyar, assisted by Hunsberger, bringing the score to 9-0 in Mercy's favor.
Mercy seized momentum early in the second quarter with a goal by Hunsberger, assisted by sophomore Jackson Redmond (Riverhead, N.Y./Riverhead). Kott extended Mercy's lead to 11-0 with another quick goal. The Mavericks maintained their offensive pressure, resulting in a goal by Magyar with an assist from Hunsberger, increasing the lead to 12-0.
As the quarter progressed, Magyar continued to be an offensive force, scoring twice more, once assisted by freshman Jose Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) and another during a man-up situation assisted by Ortiz to give Mercy a 14-0 lead. Mercy's defense, spearheaded by senior Peter Murphy's (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Port Jefferson) crucial saves, kept the Cougars scoreless.
Mercy closed the quarter with two additional goals from Abrahall and junior Jack Magyar (Floral Park, N.Y./Nassau CC), the latter assisted by Hunsberger. By halftime, Mercy led 16-0, firmly controlling the game.
The third quarter began with Mercy maintaining its lead as sophomore Benjamin Salamone (Minisink Valley, N.Y./Minisink Valley) scored an early goal at 13:48, extending the advantage to 17-0. The Cougars responded quickly with a goal by Michael Spitz at 12:50 and capitalized on a man-up opportunity at 12:26 to make it 17-2. However, Mercy regained momentum when freshman Karsen Pritchard (Clay, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse) scored at 11:34, assisted by freshman Jared Cripps (Dracut, Mass./Methuen), maintaining an 18-2 lead.
Mercy's defense, led by Murphy with several key saves, effectively held back the Cougars' attempts. The Mavericks' efforts were rewarded when Cripps, assisted by Salamone, netted a man-up goal at 2:35. Mercy concluded the quarter with a 19-2 lead, closing it out strongly and maintaining a substantial advantage.
Mercy opened the fourth quarter with a goal by freshman Sheamus Alazraki (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst), assisted by freshman Brody Kesselring (Dewitt, N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt), at 10:54 to give the Mavericks a 20-2 lead. Freshman Mikey Vitale (Islip, N.Y./Islip) and sophomore Ryan Strzalkowski (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) combined for four saves in the fourth quarter without allowing a goal to give Mercy the 20-2 win.
Mercy was led by Hunsberger who had a game-high six points on a goal and a game-high five assists. Matthew Magyar had a game-high five goals and Ortiz added three assists. Agres, Abrahall and Kott each recorded two goals and Cripps recorded his first collegiate goal with one assist. Salamone had a goal and an assist and Mitrano went 11-of-13 on faceoffs with a goal and a game-high seven ground balls. Freyer, Osorio, Pritchard, Jack Magyar and Alazraki each added a goal and Redmond, Kesselring and Santiago each dished out an assist. Sophomore Gavin Lamere (Plainview, N.Y./Herricks) had two caused turnovers and four ground balls and junior Jason Kassis (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East) recorded two caused turnovers. Junior Cameron Dorfman (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) made three saves in the first quarter without allowing a goal to earn the win. Murphy made eight saves and had three caused turnovers in 30:00 minutes of action. Vitale and Strzalkowski both recorded two saves in the fourth quarter.
Caldwell was led by Zakkery Glatfelter and Michael Spitz who both scored. Edwin Himmel-Maines made a game-high 10 saves to take the loss.
Mercy held a 44-25 edge in shots, a 34-17 edge in shots on goal, a 50-28 edge in ground balls and went 20-of-26 on faceoffs.
Head Coach Ryan MacSpadyen and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, March 14th when they play at Frostburg State at 1 p.m.
