MAIONE’S LATE GOAL SENDS NO. 6 MEN’S LACROSSE TO 5-4 VICTORY OVER NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR

Box Score vs. NDNU - March 17, 2009

BELMONT, Calif. (Mar. 17, 2009) – Tied at 4-4, senior midfielder Albert Maione (West Islip, N.Y.) registered the game-winning goal with 3:21 left in regulation to lead the sixth-ranked Molloy College men’s lacrosse team past Notre Dame De Namur University, 5-4, at Koret Field on Tuesday evening in Belmont, Calif. With the win, the Lions have now won three in a row, and are 3-0 on the year. As for the Argonauts, they fell to an overall ledger of 4-1.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Molloy got on the board three-plus minutes into the second to grab a 1-0 lead. Freshman midfielder Tom Brewer (Hicksville, N.Y.), who had a hat trick on the night, found the back of the net on an assist from senior midfielder Keith Galante (Plainedge, N.Y.). Three minutes later, Notre Dame De Namur tied it up with an unassisted tally from sophomore midfielder Greg Bearson (Sammamish, Wash.). The two teams eventually went into the locker room deadlocked at 1-all.

The third quarter featured two goals from each squad within a nine-minute stretch. Bearson got things going once again for the Argonauts with a score off an unassisted effort with 11:01 to go. Shortly thereafter, Brewer responded with his other two markers to grab hold of a 3-2 advantage with 2:35 left. However, right before the end of the quarter, NDNU freshman attackman Derek Kimbrough (Vashon, Wash.) ripped a shot past Molloy senior goaltender Robert Humann (Hicksville, N.Y.) to knot the match up again (3-3).

Kimbrough struck again at the beginning of the fourth quarter on a pass from Bearson at even strength. This gave the Argonauts back the lead at 4-3. But, the Lions weren’t out of it just yet. Nine minutes after the goal by Notre Dame De Namur, Galante notched his sixth goal of 2009 to deadlock the score at 4-all. Junior midfielder Matt Dolan (Plainedge, N.Y.) was credited with the assist. Lastly, at the 3:21 juncture, Maione locked the win up for Molloy with his eighth marker of the campaign.

In addition to Brewer’s hat trick, Galante finished with two points (1 G, 1 A). He also attempted seven shots and won one ground ball. Maione notched a ground ball as well. Senior midfielder Peter Bonelli (Commack, N.Y.) raked in eight faceoff victories and four ground balls. Senior defenders Mike Dilena (Massapequa, N.Y.) and Guy Eccher (West Islip, N.Y.) combined to record 11 ground balls with respective amounts of seven and four. Humann turned aside six saves and totaled six ground balls for the Lions.

As for the Argonauts, Bearson finished with a game-best three points (2 G, 1 A). Kimbrough tallied a pair of goals. Sophomore midfielder Rory Galvin (Providence, R.I.) contributed one assist. Junior midfielder Conrad Cleven (Austin, Texas) gathered four faceoffs and four ground balls. Senior defender Cory Upshaw (Orono, Ontario, Canada), junior defender Ryan Clark (Austin, Texas) and senior defender Steven Laird (Tualatin, Ore.) got four ground balls each. Junior goalie Matthew Coric (Walnut Creek, Calif.) made 14 saves in net.

Overall, Molloy held a 36-24 advantage in shots and a 36-20 edge in ground balls. It also owned a .667 (8-for-12) win percentage and a .739 (17-for-23) clearing percentage. Notre Dame De Namur was 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) on faceoffs and 21-of-28 (75.0 percent) on clears. Neither team was successful in their combined four extra-man opportunities.

Head Coach Joe Catalanotti and the Lions return to action this Thursday when they continue competition out West in San Rafael, Calif. against Dominican University of California. The opening faceoff is slated for 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST.