Mar 15, 2008

USMMA Captures Big Lacrosse Win

KINGS POINT, N.Y. - Senior tri-captain Ryan Merritt and Brian Flannery scored four goals apiece to help lead the United States Merchant Marine Academy lacrosse team to a 17-13 win over Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon in a battle of NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago at Kings Point. The Battling Bishops had advanced to three straight NCAA Tournaments after winning three consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference Championships. The game featured six ties and two lead changes.

USMMA improved to 2-3 overall with the victory. Ohio Wesleyan dropped to 1-4 overall with the loss. This was the Battling Bishops' fourth straight game against an NCAA Tournament team after taking losses to then-No. 5 Lynchburg, No. 1 Salisbury and No. 2 Gettysburg.

"This was definitely one of the biggest wins we've ever had," said tri-captain Michael Maginnis. "Our team really came together and showed what we should've done from the beginning. We worked really hard in practice. We knew we had a big team and a big game to prepare for."

"This was definitely up there as one of our biggest wins ever along with last year's Stevens game (when we beat them to win the Skyline Tournament)," added Merritt. "The whole team played at a completely different level. We are still young and have a lot more to prove, but this win gives us a lot of confidence to finish the season in good fashion."

In addition to scoring a career-best four goals, Flannery also had an assist to finish with a career-high five points. Freshman Robert Atkinson had a breakthrough performance with three goals and two assists for five points. Brett Daniels added two goals, including the game-winner, in the fourth quarter and Zachary Gray and Robert De Pol added four points apiece. Defensively, Michael Condron, Maginnis and Kevin Campbell combined to scoop up 16 ground balls while the goalie tandem of Robert Boyd and Keegan Boyle turned half of the Battling Bishops' shots on net.

Ohio Wesleyan was led by Rob Young's four goals and Steve Fowler's hat trick. Harrison Iuliano had three helpers and four points.

USMMA came screaming out of the gates and jumped out to a 4-0 lead just 2:31 into the contest. On the Mariners' first possession, De Pol set up Alexander for the first score at 14:20. Merritt and De Pol added unassisted tallies at 13:25 and 12:47. Atkinson then set up Merritt at 12:29 for the fourth Mariner goal.

"I thought that scoring four goals in the first four minutes of the game really lit everyone up," said Merritt. "It also sparked our defense. The fact that we scored early and often was one of the main factors today."

Ohio Wesleyan came back with three consecutive goals to cut the Mariner lead to one. Fowler scored twice at 11:45 and 10:47 and Young found the back of the net at 8:16 to make it 4-3. USMMA responded when Atkinson then set up Gray for a score at 8:07. However, Ohio Wesleyan made it a one-goal game again at 5-4 when Harrison Iuliano scored at 4:05. Flannery set up De Pol at 1:12 to give USMMA a two-goal lead again, but Iuliano set up Connor McGowan to make it a one-possession game once more with 25 seconds remaining. The quarter ended with the Mariners clinging to a 6-5 lead.

The teams exchanged eight goals in the second quarter. Playing a man up, Ohio Wesleyan tied the game at 6-6 when Fowler completed the hat trick at 14:03. Afterwards, Flannery of USMMA and Chris Ehlinger of OWU each scored twice. With 39 seconds remaining in the half, the teams were tied for the fourth time in the quarter at 9-9.

In the final second of the half, USMMA was able to score one more time to go into the break with a lead. Condron threw a bomb downfield to Atkinson. The freshman charged down the right side and fired a shot past the OWU goalie from just outside the crease with under a second remaining on the clock. USMMA went into halftime with a 10-9 lead.

OWU scored the first two goals of the second half to take its first lead of the game, 12-11, in the opening five minutes. Young found the back of the net on each occasion at 12:57 and 9:21.

However, USMMA would score five unanswered goals to all but put the game away. Flannery netted his fourth goal of the game at 5:14 to start things off and tie the game at 12-12. Merritt completed the hat trick and gave the Mariners a lead they would not relinquish when he was set up by De Pol at 3:09. Atkinson then scored an unassisted goal at 1:50 and the Mariners had a 13-11 heading into the final quarter.

Gray set up the first two Mariner goals of the fourth quarter. Daniels scored what would be the eventual game winner at 12:29 and Merritt netted his fourth goal of the game at 8:57 with the Mariners playing a man up for the squad to go ahead 15-11.

Ohio Wesleyan had one last run in them as they won two straight face-offs and qucickly scored a pair of goals to make it 15-13. Young had the first tally at 8:49. Aronoff then won the ensuing faceoff and charged all the way in down the right side for an unassisted score at 8:36. USMMA finished up the game with two more goals. Atkinson came from behind the net and completed his first career hat trick at 5:16 and Daniels found the back of the net after taking a pass from Arthur Frooks at 1:33. The game ended in the Mariners' favor, 17-13.

"This is exactly what we needed," added Maginnis. "We needed a good jump start (after those losses)."

Robert Boyd played the first half for USMMA and made four saves on 13 chances. Keegan Boyle played the second half and stopped nine shots on 13 opportunities. The sophomore was also credited with his first career victory. Ryan Perone of Ohio Wesleyan played the first and fourth quarters for Ohio Wesleyan. The three-year starter made just one save on 11 opportunities. Jud Hall played the second and third quarters and was credited with the loss after turning away six of the 13 shots he faced.

"Defensively, it's all started with our goalies who have been splitting time," said Maginnis. "Keegan (Boyle) and (Robert Boyd) did a great job for us today. I feel we have three smart guys on defense in Michael Condron, Kevin Campbell and myself as well as Tom Shannon up top as a long stick middie and our short stick middies."

In the fourth quarter, the Mariner defense has given up just four goals in five games. Furthermore, USMMA has outscored its opponent, 14-4, in the final frame this season.

The Mariners return to action at Kings Point on Monday night versus Fontbonne. The Griffins stand 1-5 overall and 0-3 against NCAA Division III competition, which includes a 13-6 loss to Ohio Wesleyan.

"We can't let this win get to our heads," said Merritt. "It was a good win, but we have to put it in the past and look to get better and better."

"This win was big and it especially showed the freshman what we can do," added Maginnis. "I am excited about next week."

The Fontbonne game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. USMMA will then face Goucher in its Landmark Conference opener at Kings Point next Saturday at 1 p.m.


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USMMA improved to 2-3 overall with the victory. Ohio Wesleyan dropped to 1-4 overall with the loss. This was the Battling Bishops' fourth straight game against an NCAA Tournament team after taking losses to then-No. 5 Lynchburg, No. 1 Salisbury and No. 2 Gettysburg. "This was definitely one of the biggest wins we've ever had," said tri-captain Michael Maginnis. "Our team really came together and showed what we should've done from the beginning. We worked really hard in practice. We knew we had a big team and a big game to prepare for." "This was definitely up there as one of our biggest wins ever along with last year's Stevens game (when we beat them to win the Skyline Tournament)," added Merritt. "The whole team played at a completely different level. We are still young and have a lot more to prove, but this win gives us a lot of confidence to finish the season in good fashion." In addition to scoring a career-best four goals, Flannery also had an assist to finish with a career-high five points. Freshman Robert Atkinson had a breakthrough performance with three goals and two assists for five points. Brett Daniels added two goals, including the game-winner, in the fourth quarter and Zachary Gray and Robert De Pol added four points apiece. Defensively, Michael Condron, Maginnis and Kevin Campbell combined to scoop up 16 ground balls while the goalie tandem of Robert Boyd and Keegan Boyle turned half of the Battling Bishops' shots on net. Ohio Wesleyan was led by Rob Young's four goals and Steve Fowler's hat trick. Harrison Iuliano had three helpers and four points. USMMA came screaming out of the gates and jumped out to a 4-0 lead just 2:31 into the contest. On the Mariners' first possession, De Pol set up Alexander for the first score at 14:20. Merritt and De Pol added unassisted tallies at 13:25 and 12:47. Atkinson then set up Merritt at 12:29 for the fourth Mariner goal. "I thought that scoring four goals in the first four minutes of the game really lit everyone up," said Merritt. "It also sparked our defense. The fact that we scored early and often was one of the main factors today." Ohio Wesleyan came back with three consecutive goals to cut the Mariner lead to one. Fowler scored twice at 11:45 and 10:47 and Young found the back of the net at 8:16 to make it 4-3. USMMA responded when Atkinson then set up Gray for a score at 8:07. However, Ohio Wesleyan made it a one-goal game again at 5-4 when Harrison Iuliano scored at 4:05. Flannery set up De Pol at 1:12 to give USMMA a two-goal lead again, but Iuliano set up Connor McGowan to make it a one-possession game once more with 25 seconds remaining. The quarter ended with the Mariners clinging to a 6-5 lead. The teams exchanged eight goals in the second quarter. Playing a man up, Ohio Wesleyan tied the game at 6-6 when Fowler completed the hat trick at 14:03. Afterwards, Flannery of USMMA and Chris Ehlinger of OWU each scored twice. With 39 seconds remaining in the half, the teams were tied for the fourth time in the quarter at 9-9. In the final second of the half, USMMA was able to score one more time to go into the break with a lead. Condron threw a bomb downfield to Atkinson. The freshman charged down the right side and fired a shot past the OWU goalie from just outside the crease with under a second remaining on the clock. USMMA went into halftime with a 10-9 lead. OWU scored the first two goals of the second half to take its first lead of the game, 12-11, in the opening five minutes. Young found the back of the net on each occasion at 12:57 and 9:21. However, USMMA would score five unanswered goals to all but put the game away. Flannery netted his fourth goal of the game at 5:14 to start things off and tie the game at 12-12. Merritt completed the hat trick and gave the Mariners a lead they would not relinquish when he was set up by De Pol at 3:09. Atkinson then scored an unassisted goal at 1:50 and the Mariners had a 13-11 heading into the final quarter. Gray set up the first two Mariner goals of the fourth quarter. Daniels scored what would be the eventual game winner at 12:29 and Merritt netted his fourth goal of the game at 8:57 with the Mariners playing a man up for the squad to go ahead 15-11. Ohio Wesleyan had one last run in them as they won two straight face-offs and qucickly scored a pair of goals to make it 15-13. Young had the first tally at 8:49. Aronoff then won the ensuing faceoff and charged all the way in down the right side for an unassisted score at 8:36. USMMA finished up the game with two more goals. Atkinson came from behind the net and completed his first career hat trick at 5:16 and Daniels found the back of the net after taking a pass from Arthur Frooks at 1:33. The game ended in the Mariners' favor, 17-13. "This is exactly what we needed," added Maginnis. "We needed a good jump start (after those losses)." Robert Boyd played the first half for USMMA and made four saves on 13 chances. Keegan Boyle played the second half and stopped nine shots on 13 opportunities. The sophomore was also credited with his first career victory. Ryan Perone of Ohio Wesleyan played the first and fourth quarters for Ohio Wesleyan. The three-year starter made just one save on 11 opportunities. Jud Hall played the second and third quarters and was credited with the loss after turning away six of the 13 shots he faced. "Defensively, it's all started with our goalies who have been splitting time," said Maginnis. "Keegan (Boyle) and (Robert Boyd) did a great job for us today. I feel we have three smart guys on defense in Michael Condron, Kevin Campbell and myself as well as Tom Shannon up top as a long stick middie and our short stick middies." In the fourth quarter, the Mariner defense has given up just four goals in five games. Furthermore, USMMA has outscored its opponent, 14-4, in the final frame this season. The Mariners return to action at Kings Point on Monday night versus Fontbonne. The Griffins stand 1-5 overall and 0-3 against NCAA Division III competition, which includes a 13-6 loss to Ohio Wesleyan. "We can't let this win get to our heads," said Merritt. "It was a good win, but we have to put it in the past and look to get better and better." "This win was big and it especially showed the freshman what we can do," added Maginnis. "I am excited about next week." The Fontbonne game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. USMMA will then face Goucher in its Landmark Conference opener at Kings Point next Saturday at 1 p.m.
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