NEWARK, Del. - - A six-goal third quarter expanded the Wilmington University men's lacrosse team's lead as it went on to a 14-9 nonconference victory over St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday at the WU Athletics Complex to remain undefeated.
With the Wildcats (5-0) leading by just one goal at the halftime break, the home team came out and put six goals in the net in the third quarter, extending their lead out to 12-8, before settling for the 14-9 victory over the Spartans (2-4).
Anton Mackey controlled the pace of play for the Wildcats, going 22-for-24 from the faceoff circle and continuing to give the ball right back to the Wilmington offense. It is his third career 20+ faceoff game, second most in his career.
The Wildcats jumped out to a large lead early, breaking a 1-1 score with four straight goals int eh first quarter. After the Spartans scored, Anton Mackey did it all himself, winning the faceoff, scooping up the groundball and taking it right to net for his first goal of the year and the 2-1 lead with 10:28 left. Logan Stinson, Noah Tuohey, and Joshua Leavery all scored in a row, giving the Wildcats a 5-1 lead with 6:18 to play in the quarter.
Keeshawn Bell made it a 6-2 lead early in the second quarter, but the Spartans answered back with the other three goals in the quarter, making it a 6-5 ball game going into the halftime break.
Third year head coach Christian Zwickert must have spoken the right words, as the Wildcat busted out of the break with four goals in the first 4:10 of the third quarter, breaking the game open. Noah Brock scored his first of the year to start the run while Jared Wagenhoffer, Dalton Ziemba, and Giovanni Marino got in on the act, pushing the lead back out to 10-5. STAC was able to stem the tide for a moment, but then Marino and Stinson answered again with back-to-back goals, regaining a five-goal margin.
Leading 12-8 going into the fourth, the Wildcats scored two goals 10 seconds apart, cementing the game with a 14-8 lead with 8:24 to play.
Freshman Logan Stinson scored six points, putting gin four goals while adding two assists. Giovanni Marino scored two goals while adding an assist, and Jacob Herman scored once and added a team high three assists.
Jake Mollohan led the defense with three caused turnovers while Colyn Lyons and Jacob Herman had two each. Noah Given made 10 saves in net for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats have 11 days off before returning to action, as they welcome Saint Michael's to Newark on Wednesday, March 18. The opening faceoff is schedule for 3:00 p.m.
