Links: Box Score
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Merrimack College men's lacrosse team silenced Wagner Saturday afternoon at Hameline Field, as a strong outing from the defense and
Henry Vogt lifted the visitors to an 8-6 triumph.
Vogt stood tall with 16 saves on the game to continue his exceptional sophomore campaign and the defense held the Seahawks to just 22 shots on goal on 40 attempts. Offensively,
Christian Thomas came through in the clutch with a four-point effort led by his sixth hat trick of the year.
Tommy Rooney also had a strong effort offensively with a pair of goals and
Trace Hogan and
Sean Black also both had multi-point outings.
Riley Reed played tough all game and tied for the game-high with three ground balls and also caused a turnover.
Just in the program's second full season at the Division I level, the win guarantees that the Warriors will finish 2022 with a .500 record or better for the second consecutive year.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 8, Wagner 6
Records: Merrimack (6-5, 3-3 NEC) | Wagner (3-8, 1-5 NEC)
Rapid Recap
- Both sides had sustained possessions to begin the game, but neither side found the back of the net until Tommy Rooney changed that with 7:22 to play in the first. Hogan took the ball goal line extended to the right, then dished out high to Rooney, who fired it home.
- The momentum continued for the visitors, as Hogan worked from X and hit Black with a pass goal line extended to the left, then the graduate student worked inside and scored with 4:05 on the clock.
- After Vogt made a pair of saves to open the game, the Seahawks broke through with 2:31 left in the first to make it 2-1.
- Following another defensive stalemate to open the second quarter, Wagner tied the game with 8:30 to play, but the Warriors were quick to take over the game again.
- Just a minute after Wagner tied it, Thomas beat a defender in the near alley, then battled inside and ripped one home.
- Black got his second point of the half five and a half minutes later when he dished to Mason Balch in the near alley for a long bomb to make it 4-2 at the break.
- It was all Warriors when play resumed. After he got a pass goal line extended to the right, Jack Rooney worked one across the face of the crease to Tommy Rooney for a dunk finish.
- Not even a minute later, Thomas got loose and threaded the needle to Drew Hailey in front for another in-tight goal to make it 6-2 Merrimack with 7:32 on the clock.
- Wagner put an end to the 4-0 run just 30 seconds later, then added one late in the quarter to send the game into the fourth quarter with a 6-4 tally.
- A longtime offensive catalyst for Merrimack, Thomas took over in the fourth quarter. He ran around the corner and got some space, then jumped for a bounce shot that picked the top corner of the net with 13:48 to play.
- The Seahawks answered under a minute later to make it 7-5, but Thomas had the response again four minutes later.
- He ran around to goal line extended to the right, then quickly snuck a shot that found twine.
- Wagner did not go away and made it a two-goal game again with 7:43 to play.
- Vogt and the Warrior defense shut the door to end the day, as he made three saves to secure the road victory.
Notes and Numbers
- Jack Rooney, Jack Barron, Christian Glover, Nicholas Perez-Blanco and Brennan McInnis also had a caused turnover.
- Perez-Blanco, Tommy Rooney and Black all had multi-ground ball games.
- Allyn French and Karl Sutter both won three face-offs in the game.
- Tommy Rooney and Thomas tied for the team-high with six shots apiece.
- The 16-save performance is the eighth game this season that Vogt has had 10 or more saves and the fourth consecutive game that he's achieved the feat.
- It was a strong day for the Warrior midfield, as it caused four failed clears for the Seahawks, while Merrimack did not have a failed clear in the entire game.
- Shots: 40-33 Wagner (22-22 SOG)
- Faceoffs: 12-6 Wagner // Ground Balls: 23-21 Merrimack
- Turnovers (CT): 19-11 Wagner (6-2 Merrimack) // Clears: Merrimack: 21-21 // Wagner: 13-17
- Extra-man opportunities: Merrimack: 0-3 // Wagner: 2-4
Up Next
The Warriors return to Duane Stadium Saturday for the season finale against Saint Joseph's. Face-off is set for 1:00 pm.
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