Men's Lacrosse Annihilates Anna Maria, 18-4, at Home in GNAC Play Tuesday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team bounced back at home against Anna Maria College, taking down the AMCATS in convincing fashion, 18-4, during Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play Tuesday afternoon on the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Anna Maria 4, USJ 18
Records: Anna Maria 1-7 (0-2 GNAC), USJ 4-3 (1-1 GNAC)
Location: USJ Lacrosse Field | West Hartford, Conn.

The Blue Jays wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as senior attack Evan Baden (Burlington, Conn.) received a pass from classmate midfield Benjamin Green (Chelmsford, Mass.) before firing into the back of the net, establishing a 1-0 edge inside the opening minute of play. Defenseman Jay Kajander kept the USJ offense rolling, increasing the lead to 2-0 from an assist by classmate Christian Decker (Bristol, Conn.) at the 11:29 mark. Green found the back of the net himself moments later, increasing the lead to 3-0 before freshman Nick Pestrichello (Wethersfield, Conn.) made it 4-0 13 seconds later after a solo effort with 10:07 left in the quarter.

USJ continued to roll in the opening quarter, as freshman attack Freeman Johnson (Swnazey, N.H.) picked out an open Matt Crisco (North Haven, Conn.), who rifled his shot into the net, increasing the gap to 5-0. Baden increased the USJ lead to 6-0 soon after, while Decker netted a solo strike at the 2:28 mark, giving the hosts a 7-0 lead after the opening quarter.

The Blue Jays defense continued to blank the Anna Maria offense, keeping the AMCATS off the board in the entire first half. USJ's offense rewarded the defensive effort, increasing the gap to 8-0 at the 13:00 mark from a strike by Decker. Green netted his second goal of the game to increase the lead to 9-0, before freshman Cam Fonseca (Saunderstown, R.I.) established a double-digit advantage, 10-0, with a goal off an assist by Pestrichello with 6L52 left in the half. Baden rounded out the dominating 11-0 scoring run by USJ, finding the back of the net in a man-up situation at the 4:06 mark, sending the hosts into the halftime break leading, 11-0.

Anna Maria struck first in the second half, but goals from Green, Decker and Baden, put a quick end to to any hope of an AMCATS comeback, as USJ lead 14-1 at the 6:37 mark. Anna Maria would find the back of the net again after a man-up situation at the 4:18 mark, but Baden continued his incredible day, netting his fifth goal to establish a 15-2 USJ lead entering the final quarter. The visitors tried to mount another late comeback, netting back-to-back goals to cut the gap to 15-4 at the 8:26 mark in the fourth. However goals from Pestrichello followed up man-up goals from Decker and Crisco, secured a dominating 18-4 victory for USJ.

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

ANNA MARIA –Matthew Peicker saw the start in goal, picking up the loss (1-6) after allowing 11 goals while making eight saves in 30 minutes of play. Nicholas Lopez played the remaining half an hour, tallying five saves while allowing seven goals.

USJ – Senior Trey McCann earned the start in goal for USJ, allowing two goals while making 10 saves in 42:28 minutes of action to improve to 4-3 on the year. Sophomore Nick Schilling (Brookfield, Conn.) played 12:53 in goal, tallying one save while allowing two goals. Senior Jayme Hollimion (Blacksburg, Va.) played the remaining 4:39 in-between the pipes for the Blue Jays.

BATTLE AT THE 'X'

The AMCATS held a slim advantage at the faceoff "X", winning 13 of 25 total faceoffs. Pestrichello and Luke von Borstel had successful days at the "X" as Pestrichello went 5-of-7, while von Borstel posted a 4-of-6 mark on faceoffs.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays take a quick break from GNAC play, heading on the road to face Manhattanville on Thursday, March 23. Start time against the Valiants from GoValiants.com Field in Purchase, N.Y. is set for 4:00 p.m.

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