PAINESVILLE, Ohio - - The Wilmington University men's lacrosse team won 28 out of the 34 face-offs, leading to more possessions and the Wildcats' first victory of the season with a 17-13 final at Lake Erie on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats (1-2) scored four consecutive goals spanning the third and fourth quarters to turn a one-goal game into a 14-9 lead. Logan Stinson then iced the game with two final goals, settling on the final score, 17-13.
Lake Erie struck first and scored back-to-back goals to take a 3-2 lead with 9:55 to play in the first quarter. TJ Caton sandwiched goals around Josh Weston for a 3-0 run for the Wildcats, taking a 5-3 lead with 5:11 to play. The Storm scored the final goal of the quarter, but the Wildcats took a 5-4 lead into the second quarter.
After Logan Stinson scored to start the second, Lake Erie scored back-to-back goals to tie the game, 6-6. Josh Weston started a 3-0 run for the Wildcats to close out the quarter, getting goals from Layton Avan and another from Logan Stinson to take a 9-6 lead into the halftime break.
Lake Erie scored three of the first four goals of the third quarter to climb to within one, 10-9, but Josh Weston stopped the Storm's momentum with the final goal of the third quarter for the 11-9 lead.
The Wildcats added onto Weston's final goal of the third quarter, getting goals from Jimmy Cava, Weston, and Avant to regain a 14-9 lead with 10:25 to play. Lake Erie wasn't done though, answering right back with a 3-0 run of their own to get within 14-12 with 7:22 to play. Logan Stinson scored a man-advantage goal with 4:44 left before the Storm got back to within 15-13 with another mark. But then Stinson iced the game, scoring with 2:40 remaining and 29 seconds left to pick up the first victory of the season.
Logan Stinson led the Wildcats with six goals while Josh Weston finished with four. TJ Caton scored three and added an assist while Layton Avant had two goals as well. Carnell Lofton Jr. went 18-for-21 on faceoffs while Connor Widmer went 10-for-13. Daniel Flynn made 11 stops in goal for the win.
The Wildcats have a week to prepare for their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener against Bridgeport next Saturday. The opening face-off is set for 2:00 p.m. at the WU Athletics Complex.