CARLISLE, Pa. - The ninth-ranked Dickinson men's lacrosse team blew out a 6-3 halftime lead into a 14-3 advantage after three quarters en route to finishing off a 17-5 conference win in the regular season finale at Biddle Field. With the win, the Red and White secured the top seed in next week's Centennial Conference Tournament meaning the road to the title goes through Biddle Field.
First Quarter
- Things started out rough for the Devils as Michael Drago won the opening faceoff and beat DC keeper Rocco Bognet only six seconds into the game.
- The Mules continued to put the pressure on recording five of the next six shots with Bognet needing to make one stop. Following that save the ball came to Caleb Oliver who fired a shot past Jace Riley Day to tie the score.
- Offerings from Taner Marusa and Luke Whalen were unable to beat the keeper, but Charlie Baughan did find the back of the net to make it 2-1 with 8:05 gone. Dickinson opened the lead to 3-1 following a turnover caused by Ethan Ferrant allowing Whalen to strike unassisted.
- Flynn Decker got the Mules back on the board prior to the end of the frame trimming the gap to 3-2 going to the second.
Second Quarter
- Bognet turned away Connor Sutton a minute into the period which sent Drew Stark back the other way resulting in a marker (4-2).
- Over the next two minutes each goalie was tested with Day stopping Oliver, while Bognet denied Aidan Fairweather allowing Ben Monroe to race back down the other way and solve Day for a 5-2 lead.
- The trio of Preston Boyd, Ramsey Huggins and Whalen were not able to cash in, but Oliver ultimately would to give DC a 6-2 advantage with 8:26 gone.
- Parker Kusko was setup by his brother Chase to cap the scoring for the half at 6-3.
Third Quarter
- Dickinson's defense was on display early as Bognet turned away Drago right off the opening draw. Kusko retrieve the free ball and was immediately stripped of possession by Will Single resulting in Huggins striking.Â
- Back-to-back faceoff victories for Ryan Backus led to markers from Mac Childs and Backus in a 12-second span to extend the margin to 9-3 not even three minutes into the frame.
- Day continued to be busy denying both Boyd and Oliver, before Childs buried his second goal of the period (10-3).
- The Red Devils offense just kept on coming as Marusa made it 11-3, followed by strikes from Whalen, Chase Squires and Owen Binder all within a minute extending the advantage to 14-3.
Fourth Quarter
- Muhlenberg tried to start their comeback just over a minute in when Kusko buried the rock. However, Oliver responded in quick order with an unassisted tally for the 15-4 lead.
- The two sides shared the next four shots with Landen Hyatt and Jake Olin firing off target for the Devils, while Daniel Friedel and Drew Pravlik went wide for MC.
- A goal from Cullen Mulhern was followed by a faceoff win for Andrew Atkins led to a strike for Ryan Banaciski making it 17-4. Dylan Lefton won the ensuing faceoff, but his ensuing shot sailed wide.
- Sutton closed out the scoring for the day with just under four minutes left setting the 17-5 final.
Dickinson Top Performers
- Goals - Oliver (3), Childs and Whalen (2)
- Assists - Whalen (3)
- Faceoffs - Backus (10-16), Squires (4-7), Lefton (2-2), Atkins (1-1)
- Caused Turnovers - Sam Bunten and Ferrant (2)
- Saves - Bognet (6), Josef Zyngier (1)
Opponent Top Performers
- Goals - Five players tied (1)
- Assists - C. Kusko (2)
- Faceoffs - Drago (8-19), Kissinger (1-2), Hernandez (0-3), Frankford (0-2)
- Caused Turnovers - Chimics (2)
- Saves - Day (11), Tabasso (1)
Up Next
- Dickinson (14-2, 7-1 Centennial) will automatically move onto Thursday's Centennial Conference Semifinals at Biddle Field and now awaits the winner of the play-in game on Tuesday between Muhlenberg and Swarthmore. Game times will be announced on Monday morning. Stay tuned to dickinsonathletics.com and all Red Devils social media for information as it becomes available.Â
