Three Different Players Tally Hat Tricks; #7 Men's Lacrosse Runs by Dowling 17-8, Saturday
Links: Highlights | Box Score | Tucker Schwarz Interview
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Highlighted by a trio of hat tricks and the second straight six-goal performance by sophomore attack Max Allen (West Caldwell, N.J.), the seventh-ranked Merrimack College men's lacrosse team dropped Dowling, 17-8, in an important regional matchup on Saturday afternoon at Martone-Mejail Field.
The Basics
Score: #7 Merrimack 17, Dowling 8
Records: #7 Merrimack (2-0) | Dowling (1-4)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
Playing a true home game for the first time this season after opening the year at UMass Lowell a week ago, Merrimack blitzed Dowling out of the gate, stringing together nine goals in the first half to go up by a 9-2 margin at the 30-minute mark.
After being held to a goal in each of the first two quarters, Dowling posted its best offensive quarter of the game, outscoring Merrimack, 4-2, in the third, to get to within five (11-6). The Warriors would promptly respond by closing out the game on a 6-2 scoring run, with four of Allen's six goals coming in the final 15 minutes, including a natural hat trick to round out the afternoon.
Classmate Tucker Schwarz (Tallahassee, Fla.) exploded for a five-point afternoon on three markers and two assists, while seniors Jamie Shand (Massapequa, N.Y.) and Kyle Guilbert (Walpole, Mass.) each finished with four-point performances; the former scored his first two goals of the year while assisting twice, and the latter secured the team's third hat trick of the afternoon and added a helper, as well.
Finally, junior Tim Towler (Topsfield, Mass.) tickled the twine twice, and classmate Scott Corcoran (Haverhill, Mass.) added three points (1g, 2a) to round out the Merrimack scoring.
Defensively, senior Andy Basler (Chelmsford, Mass.) forced a game-high three turnovers, while Schwarz caused two of his own.
In net, sophomore Dom Madonna (Liverpool, N.Y.) improved to 2-0 on the year thanks to an eight-save performance, while his counterpart Frank Sommers dropped to 1-4 while making nine saves.
Inside The Numbers
- Merrimack outshot Dowling by a 45-27 margin, with 26 landing on net
- The Warriors were successful on 11-of-12 clears compared to a 9-for-13 ratio for Dowling
- Merrimack's man-up offense was extremely effective again, finishing 4-for-7, while the man-down defense kept Dowling to 2-for-4 on their man advantages
- Merrimack finished with a 30-24 lead in ground balls and committed only 15 turnovers compared to 24 for Dowling
- In the X, Merrimack finished 12-of-27 (44.4%), with junior Andrew Walsh (Derry, N.H.) leading all Warriors with eight wins in 14 attempts (57.1%)
Up Next
Merrimack will continue its season-opening four-game homestand this coming Wednesday (March 11) afternoon when it resumes league play against Northeast-10 Conference foe Southern New Hampshire. First whistle at Martone-Mejail Field is set for 4 p.m.
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