By Mike Schultes ’12 & Michael Kelley ’14
Photo Courtesy of Athletic Communications
Five different times, the Lafayette Men’s Lacrosse team (2-8, 0-3) trailed Marist (5-3). Four times, they were able to come back and tie the score. Time ran out on the chance for a fifth comeback whenMarist scored just over a minute into the overtime period, sealing the 11-10 victory this past Tuesday at Tenney Stadium in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Despite the loss, several freshmen made names for themselves in their contributions. Sonny Round ‘15 scored four goals, while CoryScheuerle ‘15 and Brian Bock ‘15 each scored a goal for the Leopards. Bock extended his point-scoring streak to ten games.
Jack Hyatt ‘14 tied a career high with 15 saves. However, Lafayette struggled once again in a key area: ground balls. Marist scooped up 45 to Lafayette’s 35 and the extra possessions led to more shots (43 to 33) and ultimately more goals.
Last Saturday, the team put forth another decent effort against No. 19 ranked Georgetown University (5-3, 1-0), but lost 8-5 at Fisher Field. Hyatt ‘14 allowed just eight goals on 48 Georgetown shots, registering 15 saves.
Faceoffs have been a problem all season but Greg Rau ‘13 helped ease the issue, winning half of them against the Hoyas, preventing the fast break in the process.
A new problem turned out to be the difference: man-up offensive units. Georgetown converted four of their six man-up opportunities while Lafayette only capitalized once in their six chances.
Bock continued his stellar rookie campaign with a four goal performance, bringing his team leading point total to 23 on the season.
The schedule has been tough, but Bock looks at it in a positive light. “Playing top 20 teams, like Georgetown, helps prepare us for the remaining top 20 opponents on our schedule,” he said. “We know we can match any team we play, but it is the consistency that we need to work on”
With the non-conference schedule now behind them, the team is generating their focus to its final three games against league opponents Holy Cross, Colgate, and Lehigh. The Lehigh game will be the last home game for the Leopards’ eight senior members.
“We’re going to give them one heck of a battle,” defenseman Rob Glascott ‘12 said. “We know [Lehigh] is good this year, but this is a big rivalry game for us and the last one for us seniors. Hopefully we can get a rowdy crowd and leave our legacy that we never give up, never surrender.”
Next up is tomorrow’s 4 p.m. battle with the Crusaders of Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.
