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Highlights
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. –
Jack Rooney was a man on a mission for the Merrimack College men's lacrosse team Saturday afternoon at Duane Stadium, as he was a major factor in the Warriors' 11-5 win over Wagner.
The sophomore scored a single game career-high five goals and added an assist for a game-high six points. His dominating statistical day also included game-highs in shots (14), shots on goal (9) and caused turnovers (3).
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 11, Wagner 5
Records: Merrimack (2-2, 1-1 NEC) | Wagner (0-4, 0-2 NEC)
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack wasted no time and grabbed a strangle hold on the game early. Co-captain Christian Thomas netted his seventh goal of the season just 1:02 in when he took a pass from Tommy Rooney and rifled it home. Jack Rooney got his first of the afternoon just a few minutes later to stake the Warriors to an early edge.
- With just over eight minutes to go in the opening quarter, Merrimack ran a pick play and Drew Hailey converted when Jack Rooney fed him from X for his seventh of the campaign.
- The Warriors completed a solid opening 15 minutes with just under three minutes left when Jack Rooney tallied his second of the day on a wraparound.
- Wagner netted its first of the game a couple minutes into the second quarter, but Max Morrill had the response for the hosts. He uncorked a long-range missile with the left hand that found the back of the net.
- The Seahawks looked to narrow the margin before the half with a goal at the 4:56 mark, but Morrill would not have any of it. The junior scored a highlight reel tally when he fought through a pair of hits with a spin move, then beat the goalkeeper up high.
- Merrimack was deadest on putting the game away early in the second half and they succeeded. Sean Black outsmarted a defender and scored his first of the year at the 11:38 mark, then Black had his first assist of the day on a man-up tally from Thomas two minutes later. Merrimack needed just 43 seconds after that for Rooney to score his hat trick goal and all but put it away at 9-2.
- Wagner had the next goal with 6:01 to play, but Rooney scored two more in the closing six minutes to make it 11-3 after 45 minutes.
- The Seahawks added a couple in the closing quarter, but the victory was already well in hand for Merrimack.
Notes and Numbers
- Henry Vogt won his second collegiate game with three saves.
- Charlie O'Connor had the hot hand for the Warriors and won seven of his 11 faceoffs.
- Christian Glover, Brennan McInnis and Nicholas Perez-Blanco all caused two turnovers.
- Morrill's two goals marked his first multi-goal game since the Warriors joined NCAA Division I.
- The victory marked Merrimack's first as a member of the NEC.
- Shots: 51-20 Merrimack (32-8 SOG)
- EMO: Merrimack: 1-4 // Wagner: 0-4
- Faceoffs: 11-9 Merrimack // Ground Balls: 43-23 Merrimack
- Turnovers (CT): 29-13 Merrimack (17-5 Merrimack) // Clears: Merrimack: 16-18 // Wagner: 14-23
Up Next
The Warriors return to Philadelphia for the first time since they won the 2019 NCAA Division II Championship when they battle Saint Joseph's in an NEC matchup. Face-off is set for 12:00 pm from Sweeney Field.
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