Men's Lacrosse Falls to No. 1 Salisbury in NCAA Tournament Second Round

SALISBURY, Md. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team saw its historic 2024 campaign come to a close Saturday afternoon, falling to No.1 Salisbury University (Salisbury), 27-8, in the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Sea Gull Stadium in Salisbury, Md. With the result the Blue Jays conclude the year at 17-4 overall, while the Sea Gulls improve to 20-0.

KEY MOMENTS 

• Salisbury jumped out to a quick advantage, scoring 11 unanswered goals to open the game.
• Senior midfielder Sam Barbetti (Guilford, Conn.) opened the scoring for USJ, finding the back of the net at the 2:11 mark, moving the score to 11-1.
• The Sea Gulls netted twice more in the opening stanza, holding a 13-1 edge after the first.
•  Salisbury extended the gap to 19-1, before senior attackman Evan Baden (Burlington, Conn.) and freshman midfielder Brendan Tedeschi (Orange, Vt.) scored back-to-back goals in the closing minutes, closing the deficit to 19-3 entering the halftime break.
• USJ carried its scoring run into the third, as sophomore midfielder Nick Pestrichello (Newington, Conn.) found the back of the net with 12:34 on the clock, to move the gap to 19-4.
• Salisbury would answer back less than a minute later, but Pestrichello would score his second goal of the game before Baden converted on a man-up chance with 6:49 left in the third to close the Sea Gulls advantage to 20-6.
• However, the Sea Gulls would score three straight goals before Barbetti found the back of the net with five seconds left in the quarter, sending the Blue Jays into the fourth down 23-7.
• Junior midfielder Christian Decker (Bristol, Conn.) found the back of the net in the fourth, but the Sea Gulls scored four more goals, taking home a 27-8 victory.

NOTES 

• Baden paced the team with four points off two goals and two assists.
• Barbetti also netted two goals.
• Freshman defenseman Vinny Pusateri (Fitchburg, Mass.) and junior midfielder Luke von Borstel (Massena, N.Y.) corralled a team-high four ground balls each.
• Graduate student defenseman CJ Denson (West Hartford, Conn.) caused a team-best two turnovers.
• Senior Trey McCann (Simsbury, Conn.) recorded 21 saves on the day.

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