By Brandon Farren, Staff writer
While much of the campus went home to spend time with friends and family for springbreak, the Susquehanna men’s lacrosse team played two games where the River Hawks managed to go 1-1 with a 13-4 loss to Drew on March 10 and a 12-2 win against Marymount.
York came into the game nationally ranked in Division III and currently are number two in the latest USILA Coaches Poll.
The Spartans started fast and took a 5-1 lead in the opening quarter. York kept the pressure on and scored three more goals in the second to carry an 8-1 lead into halftime. Susquehanna’s lone first half goal came from sophomore midfielder Chet Morgis.
York rattled off two quick goals to start the second half before Susquehanna finally stopped the onslaught with a goal by senior defender James Tsilionis, bringing the score to 10-2.
York would add three more goals before the final minute of play. Sophomore midfielders Jake Fox and Matt Kosche both scored for the River Hawks in the fourth period, but it was too little too late as the River Hawks fell to York 13-4.
Susquehanna’s next match was at Marymount University in Virginia on March 17.
Junior goalie Dylan Abplanalp set the school record for career saves early in the game with his first save. The previous record was set at 386 saves by Dan Kotch in the 2004 season. Abplanalp currently sits at 400-career saves.
Susquehanna came out on a tear and scored the first 11 goals of the game, putting Marymount in a deep hole early. The River Hawks then buried them with their stifiling defense, holding Marymount scoreless through the first three quarters.
Junior midfielder Jake Smolokoff and junior attack Jack Donnelly each contributed a goal in the first quarter. In the second quarter Smolokoff got back into the act with an early goal. Freshamn attack Colton Dick added a goal of his own soon after to bring the River Hawks lead to 4-0. Dick and Smolokoff each notched their third goals of the game in the third quarter. Senior midfielder Andrew Porzio and junior midfielder Louis Pillari paced the offense in the final quarter.
Marymount added a cushion to their lead with a few garbage time goals to seal the win. The team rounded out their week with an impressive 16-8 victory on the road over Bryn Athyn on March 20. Senior attacker Alec Tzaneteas scored six goals in the River Hawks win.
The River Hawks return to action on Saturday, March 24 against conference-foe Elizabethtown at 1 p.m.
