#3 Men's Lacrosse Wins Fifth Straight at Assumption
Links: Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass. – Backstopped by a career-high 19 saves from sophomore Sam Ventresca (Woburn, Mass.) while his offense scored the game's first eight goals in the first half, the third-ranked Merrimack College men's lacrosse team won its fifth straight game, 15-5, at Assumption in Wednesday night Northeast-10 Conference action.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 15, Assumption 5
Records: #4 Merrimack (10-1, 8-1 NE-10) | Assumption (2-10, 2-7 NE-10)
Location: Multi-Sport Stadium | Worcester, Mass.
How It Happened
After enjoying an eight-day layoff since last taking the turf, Merrimack returned to action shooting for its fifth straight victory at Assumption on Wednesday night.
A four-goal spurt through the first five minutes of the opening quarter helped the visitors set the tone early and often, as goals from three different players ignited the offense at the game's onset. Sophomore Kyle Stenberg (Annandale, N.J.) concluded the first-quarter scoring midway through the period to give the Warriors a 5-0 edge after 15 minutes.
Junior Max Allen (West Caldwell, N.J.) registered the game's only hat trick and, more importantly, his 100th career goal just 16 seconds into the second quarter and two others followed him into the cage, while the defense took center stage over the remainder of the half to help send the Warriors into the locker room with an 8-0 advantage.
Assumption finally got on the board 55 seconds into the third quarter, but five different Warriors scored the game's next five goals and Allen added one more later on in the frame to give the hosts a 14-2 lead after three periods.
Merrimack added one last tally in the fourth frame to account for the final margin of victory.
Notes and Numbers
- Allen finished one goal shy of his career-high, leading the way with five markers to account for his eighth hat trick of the season
- Other multi-goal scorers featured freshman Brendan Donnelly (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.), who posted a career-high two goals, while eight others found the back of the net to highlight an impressive balanced attack for the Warriors
- Ventresca's 19 stops were two more than his previous career-high, as the sophomore played all 60 minutes and allowed just five goals
- Recording its 10th win of the season, Merrimack has now produced double-digit victories for the ninth straight season and 12th in its last 13 campaigns
- Junior Danny Loprete (Watertown, Mass.) won 11-of-22 faceoffs and led the team with six ground balls
- EMO: Merrimack (0-4) // AC (0-6)
- SOG: Merrimack – 34 // AC – 24
- Ground Balls: Merrimack – 31 // AC – 24
- Clears: Merrimack (16-for-19) // AC (13-for-19)
Up Next
Merrimack concludes its two-game week at Bentley this Saturday (April 23). The game – which was originally slated for Tuesday, April 6 – will begin at 2 p.m.
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