NEWARK, Del. - - Georgian Court raced out to an early first half lead before taking the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest from the Wilmington University men's lacrosse contest, 17-6, on Wednesday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Lions (6-6, 2-0 CACC) proved to be too much for the Wildcats, jumping out to a 6-2 lead after the first quarter before scoring six unanswered goals in the second quarter for a 12-2 halftime advantage. The Wildcats (2-7, 0-2 CACC) scored once in the third and three in the fourth, but it was too little too late as the Lions earned the CACC victory.
Dylan McCleaft did all the scoring in the first quarter for the Wildcats, cutting the deficit to 2-1 just two minutes into the game. McCleaft scored again with 7:44 left in quarter, bringing the Wildcats to within 4-2, but the Lions answered with the final two marks of the quarter to lead, 6-2, going into the second.
Georgian Court extended its run into the second quarter, outscoring the Wildcats, 6-0, in the quarter and making it eight straight to end the half for a 12-2 lead.
The Lions made it nine straight with a goal in the third quarter before James Colligan ended the streak with a goal from Jake Gies with three minutes left in the quarter.
Gies got in on the scoring on a man-advantage goal with 7:20 left in the fourth before McCleaft finished off his hat trick with 3:10 to play. John Novak closed out the scoring for the Wildcats with an unassisted goal with 2:48 to play.
The Lions only outshot the Wildcats, 30-28, in the game, with the Wildcats outshooting the Lions, 21-12, in the second half. The Lions won 17 face-offs to the Wildcats' nine in the game, including a 12-4 advantage in the first half.
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday when they host Felician in another CACC battle. Both the Wildcats and Golden Falcons are in their first year as a men's lacrosse program. The opening face-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
