CARLISLE, Pa. - Junior attackman
Preston Boyd netted five goals, including a first quarter hat trick to help power the eighth-ranked and top-seeded Dickinson men's lacrosse team to their fifth consecutive Centennial Conference title game appearance with a 13-6 semifinal win over Swarthmore Collegeon Thursday afternoon at Biddle Field.
First Quarter
- Boyd got the party started early posting his first of the game just 2:13 into the contest off a dish from Sam Bunten.
- The visitors answered back a few minutes later after Drew Tyson denied Boyd, Owen George beat Rocco Bognet.
- Tyson continued his strong start by turning aside Caleb Oliver twice, before Boyd bagged his second (Drew Stark assist).
- With just under three minutes to go Will Single popped the ball free from Nolan Ohrman resulting in Ramsey Huggins connecting with Taner Marusa. The Devils were not done as Boyd cleaned up a miss from Luke Whalen to take a 4-1 edge into the second.
Second Quarter
- Both keepers were tested early with Tyson stopping Stark, while Bognet shutdown Rex Mabbs within the first three minutes.
- A minute later Bognet picked off an errant pass from Ohrman which sent the Devils back the other way leading to an unassisted strike by Mac Childs making it 5-1 at the 4:55 mark.
- Dickinson's defense setup the sixth goal with a turnover caused by Huggins allowed him to solve Tyson. Then, off the ensuing faceoff win for Ryan Backus, Marusa cashed in for a 7-1 advantage.
- Over the remainder of the frame shots came from Charlie Baughan, Ben Monroe, Huggins, Marusa and Whalen resulting in two more tallies giving the Red and White a 9-1 halftime lead.
Third Quarter
- An early turnover forced by Ethan Ferrant and stop for Bognet prevented the Garnet from getting on track offensively.Â
- Dickinson then used a span of 66-seconds to find the back of the net three times courtesy of Boyd (2x) and Tommy Baldini (Cullen Mulhern assist) making it 12-1 with five minutes gone.
- Bognet continued to be a big story as he notched stops against Andrew Stodden and Mabbs, while Ethan Ackerman and Jamie Book each caused a giveaway to close out the period.
Fourth Quarter
- Both goalies were tested early on with Tyson stopping Boyd, while at the other end Owen Hoffman met the stick of Bognet.Â
- Swarthmore then got their attack moving posting ten of the next twelve shots resulting in four straight Garnet markers to trim the gap to 12-5 with just under five minutes to play.
- Once again the DC defense led to a goal with Ackerman jarring the rock away from Ben Zabierek which allowed him to get the ball up to Baldini who slung it past Tyson. However, Mabbs added one more to set the 13-6 final.
Dickinson Top Performers
- Goals - Boyd (5), Baldini, Huggins and Marusa (2)
- Assists - Huggins and Whalen (2)
- Faceoffs - Backus (8-15), Chase Squires (2-7), Andrew Atkins (0-1)
- Caused Turnovers -Â Â Ackerman and Bognet (2)
- Saves - Bognet (8)
Opponent Top Performers
- Goals - George and Mabbs (2)
- Assists - Ah Now, Mabbs and Ohrman (1)
- Faceoffs - McHenry (10-16), Cassinelli (2-6), Maston (1-1)
- Caused Turnovers - Malcolm (2)
- Saves - Tyson (13)
Up Next
- Dickinson (15-2) will now host second seed Gettysburg College in the conference title game on Saturday night at 7pm on the Biddle Field turf. It will be the third straight year that the Devils and Bullets have battled for the Centennial Conference crown.
