Men's Lacrosse Holds Off Purchase College, 11-7, Saturday At Home

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team snapped a two-game losing streak, bouncing back with an 11-7 victory against the Purchase College Panthers (Purchase), Saturday afternoon on the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn. Freshman midfielder Nick Pestrichello (Wethersfield, Conn.) had a career day, netting five goals to pace the USJ offense.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Purchase 7, USJ 11
Records: Purchase 1-3, USJ 3-2
Location: USJ Lacrosse Field | West Hartford, Conn.

Pestrichello wasted little time opening up the scoring, receiving a pass from senior midfielder Benjamin Green (Chelmsford, Mass.) before firing his shot into the back of the net 1:06 minutes into the game. Green continued to be a dynamic playmaker, finding the stick of sophomore attack Evan Zimnoch (Southington, Conn.), who scored the Blue Jays' second goal of the game, increasing the lead to 2-0 at the 12:51 mark. Zimnoch would turn into a provider, dishing out a pass to freshman midfielder Cam Fonseca (Saunderstown, R.I.) who rifled his shot into the net, increasing the gap to 3-0. Sophomore midfielder Christian Decker (Bristol, Conn.) continued USJ's offensive onslaught, taking full advantage of a man-up scenario, reciving a pass from sophomore defender Jay Kajander (Reading, Mass.) before finding the net to give USJ a 4-0 edge with 6:37 left in the first. Zimnoch made it five for the Blue Jays in the opening quarter, scoring with 24 seconds left after an assist from sophomore midfielder Gavin Cabral (Burlington, Conn.).

USJ continued to put its foot on the gas in the second quarter, increasing the lead to 6-0 after Pestrichello scored in a man-up situation at the 12:47 mark. The game would then fall quiet as both the Panthers and Blue Jays kept the opposing offenses at bay. Pestrichello put an end to the scoring draught, working his way in front of the net before sniping his shot into the corner, finishing off his hattrick and increasing the USJ lead to 7-0 with 1:33 left in the half. The freshmen made it 8-0 moments later, taking advantage of a great pass from freshman attack Jack Malek (Pawcatuck, Conn.), netting his fourth goal, and sending USJ into the locker room with a commanding lead.

The third quarter started slowly as USJ and Purchase could not muster any great scoring chances. Senior attack Evan Baden (Burlington, Conn.) would score first in the third quarter, finding the back of the net after a pass from Decker, increasing the USJ advantage to 9-0, with 9:49 on the clock. Pestrichello rounded out his stellar offensive performance, making a solo effort towards goal before ripping his shot into the goal, extending the gap to double digits, 10-0, with 6:13 left in the quarter. However, Purchase would score back-to-back goals to end the third, heading into the fourth quarter down, 10-2.

The Panthers came alive in the fourth quarter as they tried to mount a massive comeback. The visitors would score five unanswered goals, pulling within three, 10-7, with 6:39 left to play. However, the USJ defense would not let Purchase get any closer, as a goal from Baden at the 2:28 mark secured the victory for the Blue Jays.

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

Purchase–Will Boes played every minute in goal for Purchase, tallying 12 saves while allowing 11 goals. With the result his record on the year moves to 1-3.

USJ – Senior Trey McCann played the entire first half for USJ, allowing no goals while making three saves to improve to 3-2 on the year. Sophomore Nick Schilling (Brookfield, Conn.) played 21:16 in goal, tallying four saves while allowing five goals. Senior Jayme Hollimion (Blacksburg, Va.) played the remainder of the game in net, recording a save and allowing two goals.

BATTLE AT THE 'X'

The Blue Jays held the slight advantage at the faceoff "x", winning 13 of 22 face offs. Sophomore Luke von Borstel (Massena, NY.) was the main faceoff guy for USJ, winning 7 of his 11 attempts.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays head on the road for a quick two-game road trip. USJ first stops at Manhatanville on Tuesday, March 14. Start time against the Valiants is set for 4:00 p.m. on GoValiants.com Field in Purchase, N.Y.

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