Photo Courtesy of Athletic Communications
By Abrielle Tutino
Susquehanna men’s lacrosse closed out Senior Day with a strong 14–9 win over Drew on Saturday, dominating in the fourth quarter to pull away in a game that stayed tight for the first three periods.
Before the game, Susquehanna recognized the seven seniors playing their final season with the team. Garrett Howell, Nick Kennedy, Wallace Pickard IV, Marc Manfredonia, Kieran Koenke, Jimmy Maro and Nick Remund were celebrated with a ceremony before the game with their families and teammates.
The River Hawks (6–5) and Rangers battled evenly early, ending the first quarter tied 3–3 before Susquehanna carried a slight edge into halftime. Drew stayed within striking distance the entire first half, trailing just 6–5 at the break after a late goal cut into the deficit.
The back-and-forth continued in the third quarter, where both teams scored three goals. Susquehanna built a 9–6 lead midway through the period, but Drew answered with two late goals to make it a one-goal game heading into the fourth.
That’s where the River Hawks took over.
Susquehanna outscored Drew 5–1 in the final quarter, turning a tight 9–8 game into a 14–9 win. The offense found another level late, while the defense tightened up and limited Drew’s chances down the stretch.
Junior Pat McDermott led the way offensively with multiple goals, including key finishes in the second half. Junior Reese Ackerman and sophomore Owen Teaney also contributed down the stretch, helping Susquehanna create separation in the fourth quarter.
Faceoffs played a big role throughout, with sophomore Brandon Cash helping the River Hawks control possession in key moments, especially as the game started to shift late.
Defensively, Susquehanna stepped up when it mattered most. After allowing Drew to stay within one late in the third, the unit locked in during the fourth quarter, holding the Rangers to just one goal over the final 15 minutes.
The win reflected the team’s ability to stay composed in tight situations — something sophomore Frank Fiannaca emphasized after the game.
“The team dynamic just gets better every single day,” Fiannaca said. “We are a super motivated group who strives to get better every single day. With big conference games coming up we always fall back on our resiliency and discipline in close games.”
That resiliency showed on Saturday.
In a game that could have gone either way through three quarters, Susquehanna’s discipline, depth, and execution in the final frame made the difference — and gave the seniors a Senior Day win to remember.
The River Hawks will look to finish strong with only three games remaining in the regular season. Susquehanna will first travel to the nation’s capital to take on Catholic University on Wednesday, April 15 at 5:00 p.m.