HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Dickinson men's lacrosse team built on a 10-4 halftime lead, by going on a 7-1 run during the third quarter to remain unbeaten with a 20-8 Centennial Conference win over the Haverford College Fords on Saturday afternoon at Swann Field. Sascha Gannon and Owen Porter led the way offensively for the Devils combining for seven goals.

Dickinson began the day with some excitement as goalie Chris Brandau returned between the pipes for the Red and White after missing the last four games. He would be tested early as he stopped Andrew Arth just 1:34 in. However, Sean Mowatt-Larssen would put the hosts on top 36-seconds later. Tucker Booth, Sam Campbell, Will Farrell, Skyler Schluter, and Porter all missed the mark before James Isaacson solved Jacob Abraham to tie the score with 3:20 left. The rest of the quarter belonged to the Devils as they recorded the final six shots with Ben Tomick, Farrell, and Gannon all hitting the back of the net for a 4-1 lead.

Both keepers were busy early in the second with Abraham stopping both Ethan Gess and Edward Sinnott, while Brandau shutdown Matt Richards on two occasions. With just a tick over eight minutes off the clock, DC extended the lead with Porter finding Schluter. However, Haverford answered back with two quick ones, before Jake Giotto took advantage of a Fords mistake to make it 6-3 with 6:25 left. Dickinson kept the pressure up with three more goals less than 90-seconds apart thanks to Matt Thurston, Farrell, and Schluter pushing the advantage out to 9-3. An Abraham save led to a transition opportunity for Blake Brinster who beat Brandau before Booth cashed in at the other end for a 10-4 halftime lead.

Dickinson made their first three shots of the third quarter count against new Fords keeper Andy Tieso as Cam Battisti, Booth, and Gannon all buried the rock to make it 13-4 with not even four minutes off the clock. The defense of the Red and White locked all doors and windows on the Fords over the next six minutes as they did not allow a shot while firing seven themselves before Porter finished off a dish from Lee Dunn man-up for the 14-4 cushion. Porter would add two more to complete a quarter hat-trick to push the lead to a dozen with 3:55 to go. Both teams would score once more with Gannon tickling the twine for the Devils sending the game to the fourth at 17-5.

With less than 30-seconds off the clock in the fourth Cole Schwartz missed the mark, before Porter found the back of the net. Haverford had the next four shots, but could not beat Brandau. Campbell would tack on another one for the Red and White to stretch the advantage to 19-5 with three minutes gone. That would bring Patrick Scarborough into the game to replace Brandau. The Fords found a rhythm the rest of the game outscoring DC 3-1 with Jack Murphy tallying for the Devils to setup the 20-8 final.      

Red Devil Leaders 

Goals - Porter (4), Gannon (3), Booth, Farrell, and Schluter (2)

Assists - Isaacson and Porter (2)

Groundballs - John McKee (5), Brandau (3)

Saves - Brandau (10), Scarborough (2)

Ford Leaders 

Goals - Brinster and Mowatt-Larssen (2)

Groundballs - Drew Buck and Eric Dahlberg (4)

Saves - Abraham and Tieso (6)

Up Next

Dickinson (10-0, 3-0 Centennial) returns to action on Saturday at 3 p.m. when they host the Bears of Ursinus College in a Centennial Conference clash.