HOBOKEN, N.J. - Coming off their magical 2025 season that saw them make a run all the way to the Division III National Championship game the four-time defending Centennial Conference champion Dickinson men's lacrosse team got their 2026 season underway on Saturday afternoon. As has been the case in recent seasons the Red and White opened up with a Top-20 showdown against the Stevens Institute of Technology. Unfortunately, for the sixth-ranked Red Devils despite four goals from rookie
Drew Stark it was the 16th-ranked Ducks that notched the 9-8 non-conference victory at the DeBaun Athletic Complex.
First Quarter
- It took four minutes to see the first goal of the campaign as Rocco Bognet denied Tyler Holland, leading to a chance from Preston Boyd that got by Michael Jannotte for the 1-0 lead.
- Over the next five minutes each keeper was tested with Bognet shutting down Adam DeCristofaro, while Jannotte had the answer for Cullen Mulhern to keep it at 1-0 with six to play.
- Following a penalty against Ethan Ferrant for unnecessary roughness, Chris Ciccarello tallied on the man-up to tie the game.
- Three more stops by Bognet prevented the Ducks from taking the lead. However, in the last minute he was matched by Jannotte who turned away the duo of Ramsey Huggins and Boyd ending the period.
Second Quarter
- After a penalty was assessed to Ciccarello for illegal equipment in between the periods, a pair of first-years connected with James Bruno finding Stark for the lead. Unfortunately, the hosts needed just 60-seconds to find the response from Jackson Penn.
- The group of Tommy Baldini, Landen Hyatt, Jake Hilgartner, Ben Monroe, Bruno and Huggins tried to push DC back on top, but the combination of the post and Jannotte were able to keep that from happening.Â
- At the other end of the field Bognet added two more saves to his total to maintain the 2-2 score with the game entering the final six minutes.
- A failed clear presented Stark with the opportunity to bag his second of the day for a 3-2 edge, before Matthew Pergola, DeCristofaro and Penn put together a three-goal run to give SIT the 5-3 advantage.
- The hosts tried to extend their lead prior to the final horn but a stop from Bognet against Will Labartino set the stage for Stark to complete his hat trick cutting it to 5-4 going to the half.
Third Quarter
- Dickinson came out of the break determined to find an equalizing goal with Boyd, Huggins and Hyatt combining for four shots tasking Jannotte into making two saves to keep the lead.
- The Ducks would ride that defensive momentum to two more goals courtesy of Labartino and Pergola bumping the margin out to three at 7-4 with 6:05 off the clock.
- With five minutes to play Bognet shutdown Ryan Jack and kicked the ball ahead to Huggins who connected with Charlie Baughan for the finish cutting the deficit down to 7-5.
- Three minutes later, it was the same idea as a Bognet stop resulted in a DC marker this time thanks to Stark. However, Penn answered right back to reestablish the two-goal cushion going to the fourth at 8-6.
Fourth Quarter
- It was all about Jannotte early in the period recording saves against Boyd, Bruno and Huggins which allowed DeCristofaro to cash in at the other end for the 9-6 lead at the 4:55 mark.
- Over the ensuing three minutes both goalies were busy notching two more saves each.
- A marker from Boyd and a faceoff victory for Chase Squires leading to a goal by Huggins gave the Devils a chance at 9-8 with 3:20 left.
- Unfortunately, late offerings from Ferrant and Huggins were unable to get by Jannotte allowing the Ducks to escape with the win.
Dickinson Top Performers
Opponent Top Performers
- Goals - Penn (3), DeCristofaro and Pergola (2)
- Assists - Jack (3), Leone (2)
- Faceoffs - Chorazykiewicz (7-13), Giarrusso (3-6)
- Caused Turnovers - Lesizza (2)
- Saves - Jannotte (18)
Up Next
- Dickinson (0-1) will open up their home schedule next Saturday afternoon at 12pm when they welcome the University of Scranton to Carlisle.
