Late Goals Push USMMA Men's Lacrosse To landmark Crown

KINGS POINT, N.Y. - The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy lacrosse team brought home its first Landmark Conference Championship with an 8-6 victory over the University of Scranton. In the processes, Brennan Dougherty became the All-Time Assists Leader in school history with 109. Brian Flannery led the Mariners on the day with two goals and one assists while Keegan Boyle added 10 saves. Zach Gray netted the Mariners seventh goal that would break a 6-6 tie and give the Mariners the win.

The Mariners improved their record to 11-5 while Scranton fell to 9-7 overall.

Adam Jerlow started things off for the Mariners, netting the first goal of the game at the 12:24 mark, 1-0. Gray put the Mariners up 2-0 with his first goal of the game on a pass from Arthur Frooks. Robby Napp put the Royals on the board with his only goal of the game at the 8:06 mark, 2-1. Dougherty netted his only goal of the game at the 3:30 mark of the first quarter to take a 3-1 lead over the Royals. Two minutes later, Scranton responded with a goal by Thomas Alati to end the first quarter, 3-2.

In the second quarter, both team traded goals to make it a one goal lead for the Mariners at the break. Sean Zakow netted his first goal of the game two in a half minutes into the second quarter to put the Mariners back up two, 4-2. Robert Pantages answered with his first goal, two minutes later to give Stephen Bruestle the assist. USMMA went back up by two at the 3:34 mark when Flannery netted a goal on an assist from Dougherty that broke the school record. Mike Rufo made it a one goal deficit at the half with his goal at the 1:56 mark.

Zakow again started this off for the Mariners in the beginning of a quarter with his second goal at the 2:57 mark in the third quarter. Scranton again would answer a Mariners goal to stay within one on shot by Pantages, 6-5.

The Royal tied the game up in the fourth quarter on Rufo’s second goal of the game at the 10:44 mark, 6-6. The Mariners were able to get a strong goal from Gray with an assist by Robert De Pol and then another goal by Flannery at the end of the quarter to lock in the Championship for the Mariners, 8-6.

The Mariners will now look for a NCAA Tournament bid in looks to keep their season going.

Story provided by USMMA Sports Information