Men's Lacrosse Dominates Castleton, 14-5, Sunday Night

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team made it two in a row to start the 2023 campaign, dominating at home against Castleton University (Castleton), 14-5, Sunday night on the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn. The 2-0 start is the best for USJ in the four-year history of the program. Senior Evan Baden (Burlington, Conn.) had a stellar performance, leading the team with four goals and two assists.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Castleton 5, USJ 14
Records: Castleton 0-1, USJ 2-0
Location: USJ Lacrosse Field | West Hartford, Conn.

The Spartans struck first, taking advantage of a man-up situation to take the early lead at the 12:37 mark. Baden though wasted little time equalizing, scoring at the 11:01 mark to level the score. The goal started a 5-0 stretch, as Cam Fonseca (Saunderstown, R.I.), Nick Pestrichello (Wethersfield, Conn.) Freeman Johnson (Swanzey, N.H.) and Christian Decker (Bristol, Conn.) all found the back of the net. Castleton though would score again in the closing minute as the Blue Jays held a 5-2 lead after the first quarter.

The second quarter started quiet as both defenses stood firm, not allowing a clear-cut opportunity for the majority of the quarter. Ryan Paltauf (Southbury, Conn.) finally broke the scoring drought, firing a shot past the Spartans netminder Christopher Dindino (Turnersville, N.J.), extending the lead to 6-2 at the 4:12 mark. Fonseca notched his second goal of the game in the closing minute, receiving a pass from Baden before rifling his effort into the net, taking advantage of a man-up scenario. The goal saw the Blue Jays take a 7-2 lead into the second half.

USJ and Castleton ensured a repeat of the second quarter would not happen, as the two teams combined for six goals in the third. Fonseca began the scoring onslaught, increasing the lead to 8-2 with 13:08 on the clock. Castleton answered right back to cut the gap to five, with 9:27 left in the quarter. The Spartan's goal lit a fire in the USJ offense, as the Blue Jays scored three unanswered, including two highlight worthy goals from Baden, increasing the gap to 11-3, with 3:58 left in the quarter. However, the Spartans responded with one more goal 43 seconds after Baden's second tally, to trail 11-4 entering the fourth quarter.

Baden continued his hot hand, finding the back of the net for the fourth time at the 12:22 mark, increasing the gap to 12-4. The Spartans would answer back with a goal, but goals from Johnson and a long-range effort from Jay Kajander (Reading, Mass.), sealed the victory for USJ, 14-5.

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

Castleton–Dindino played every minute for the Spartans, tallying 23 saves to pick up the loss.

USJ – Trey McCann (Simsbury, Conn.) played every minute in goal for the Blue Jays, tallying eight saves off 13 shots to record the win. With the result he moves to 2-0 on the year.

BATTLE AT THE 'X'

Finn Miller (Chester, Conn.) paced the Spartans at the faceoff X, winning 12 of his 20 attempts. Pestrichello was the main face off for the Blue Jays, going 5 of 12 at the X. As a team, Castleton had the edge at the X, winning 12 of 21 faceoffs.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays head on the road for the first time this season, travelling to Nichols College on Saturday, March 4. Start time on Vendetti Field in Dudley, Mass., is set for 3 p.m.

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