DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by a game-high five goals and four assists from sophomore Cole Hunsberger (Waterloo, Ontario/Grand River Collegiate Institute), a game-high 15 saves from junior Cameron Dorfman (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and a game-high three caused turnovers from senior Michael Corbo (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage), the RV Mercy University Men's Lacrosse Team earned a 17-8 win over University of Bridgeport on Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (8-5) have won three of their last four games and defeat the Purple Knights (9-6) in the schools' first-ever meeting.
Mercy started the first quarter with a strong defensive presence, as Dorfman made several key saves early on. Despite an initial goal by Bridgeport's Ashton Lankowski, Mercy quickly responded with Hunsberger scoring at 8:59, assisted by freshman Jackson Wilkinson (Scarborough, Ontario/Everest Academy), leveling the score.
Momentum shifted further in Mercy's favor when Hunsberger, scoring a man-down goal, and senior Matthew Magyar (Floral Park, N.Y./Wingate University), capitalizing on an extra-man opportunity, extended the lead to 3-1 at 5:12. Hunsberger's third goal of the quarter, assisted by junior Colin Orsino (Brookhaven, N.Y./Bellport), solidified Mercy's advantage.
As the quarter drew to a close, Bridgeport managed to cut into the lead with a goal from Matthew Levantini at 0:47. However, Mercy maintained a 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Mercy began the second quarter with a strong offensive push. Junior Jake Norton (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) initiated the scoring with a goal at 13:08, quickly followed by senior Devon Duchnowski (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) scoring with an assist from Magyar to make it 6-2. Senior Jack Agres (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) added another goal, assisted by Hunsberger, extending Mercy's lead to 7-2 at 12:08. A brief response from Bridgeport was countered by a goal from Hunsberger, assisted by sophomore Benjamin Salamone (Minisink Valley, N.Y./Minisink Valley), maintaining Mercy's momentum. A Hunsberger goal from junior James Goodrich (Farmingdale, N.Y./University of Bridgepor.t) later gave the Mavericks a 9-3 lead at 7:24. A Lankowski goal later made it 9-4.
As the quarter progressed, junior Dillon Osorio (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Saint Anthony's) and Magyar each found the back of the net, with Magyar's goal coming on a man-up opportunity to make it 11-5 at 1:02. Despite some resistance from Bridgeport, Mercy's defense, led by Dorfman's saves, held firm. The quarter closed with Mercy leading 11-5, reinforcing its dominance and setting a solid foundation for the remainder of the contest.
After an initial blocked shot, Bridgeport scored first in the third quarter with a goal by Luciano Canino, assisted by Lankowski, narrowing Mercy's lead to 11-6.
Following a penalty on Bridgeport, Mercy capitalized on the extra-man opportunity when Agres scored, assisted by Osorio, making it 12-6 at 11:55. Dorfman made several key saves, maintaining the defensive effort for Mercy. The quarter ended with Mercy maintaining a 12-6 lead.
Mercy began the fourth quarter by capitalizing on a man-up opportunity with a goal from Agres, assisted by Hunsberger, at 11:31.
Despite Bridgeport's efforts to close the gap with a goal by Hudsin DenHartog at 7:25 and another by Darien Fray at 5:34, Mercy responded decisively. Freshman Dean Kott (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) and junior Christopher Bergersen (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) each found the back of the net, with Bergersen's goal assisted by Hunsberger, pushing Mercy's lead to 15-8 at 3:06.
Mercy continued to build momentum with Goodrich scoring at 2:39, assisted by Agres, followed by another goal from Kott, assisted by Bergersen, at 2:02. Mercy maintained control through the end of the quarter, securing a 17-8 victory.
Mercy was led by Hunsberger who had a game-high and career-high nine points on five goals and four assists and added four ground balls. Agres recorded three goals and an assist and Magyar netted two goals and an assist. Goodrich, Bergersen, Duchnowski, and Osorio each had a goal and an assist and Kott recorded two goals. Norton had a goal, eight ground balls and two caused turnovers and Wilkinson, Orsino and Salamone each had an assist. Freshman Dillon Halloran (Nesconset, N.Y./Sachem North) went 15-of-23 on faceoffs with six ground balls and two caused turnovers and Corbo had a game-high-tying three caused turnovers with three ground balls. Sophomore Gavin Lamere (Plainview, N.Y./Herricks) had a game-high and career-high nine ground balls with a caused turnover and Dorfman made a game-high 15 saves to earn the win.
Bridgeport was led by Lankowski who had a team-high three points on two goals and an assist. Matthew Hughes made eight saves to take the loss.
Mercy held a 41-39 edge in shots, a 47-30 edge in ground balls and went 17-of-29 on faceoffs.
Head Coach Ryan MacSpadyen and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, April 25th when they host D'Youville for Senior Day at 2 p.m.
