Links: Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – A third quarter scoring drought did the Merrimack College men's lacrosse team in Saturday afternoon at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium, as LIU topped by the Warriors by a 16-7 final.
Jack Rooney scored the game's first goal just 2:22 into the contest, but the Sharks went on a 5-0 run afterwards and did not relinquish that advantage.
Christian Thomas was the catalyst offensively for the visitors, as he scored four goals with all of them in the first half.
Sean Black and
Brian Russell also found the back of the net for the Warriors.
Henry Vogt took the loss in the cage with nine saves on the afternoon.
The Basics
Score: LIU 16,
Merrimack 7
Records: Merrimack (3-4, 0-2 NEC) | LIU (5-4, 2-0 NEC)
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack pushed the pace in transition a couple minutes into the game and the ball eventually got to Jack Rooney below the goal line, then he popped out in front and ripped one home to open the scoring.
- LIU roared back over the next five minutes for a 5-1 run to grab the lead.
- Thomas went to work to close out the first quarter to narrow the margin. He had a personal 2-0 run that started with 4:23 to go when Tommy Rooney centered a pass to him in front of the net, then the graduate student rifled it home.
- Then, with just moments remaining in the quarter, Mason Balch shuffled a pass to Thomas in the far alley, then he unloaded a sidewinder that rippled the twine to make it 5-3 after 15 minutes of play.
- The Sharks responded to begin the second quarter with a trio of goals, but Thomas put a stop to it again.
- Thomas scored twice in the span of 1:09, as he found the first one with 9:28 to play after Michael Ferrara found him off a forced turnover near midfield. Jack Rooney got his second point of the day not long afterwards when he found Thomas to make it an 8-5 game.
- LIU scored five minutes afterward to send the teams to the half in a 9-5 game.
- The third quarter all but put the game away, as the Sharks outscored Merrimack, 4-0, in the quarter, then also netted one 2:13 into the fourth to push the margin to nine.
- Merrimack put together one final push with just under 10 minutes to go in the game, as Black scored on the man-up from Tommy Rooney, then Brian Russell scored with 8:01 off a Jack Rooney pass.
- The hosts ended the game on a 2-0 run to seal the 16-7 decision.
Notes and Numbers
Up Next
Merrimack returns home Saturday for Alumni Day at Duane Stadium against Mount St. Mary's. Faceoff is set for 1:00 pm against the Mountaineers.
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