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NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University men's lacrosse team started the 2022 season with a record-breaking victory against Chowan, defeating the Hawks, 26-4, on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The 26 goals are the most goals in a game in program history, now in its fifth year of existence. They also produced a record 69 shots in the game, culminating in the largest margin of victory in program history (22). Miles Crouse's five assists also sets a new program mark on the individual side of the ball.
The season started at an unusual pace, as the first quarter saw seven penalties called. The Wildcats were able to take advantage of the slow pace of play, coming away with a 7-1 lead after the first quarter. Miles Crouse found himself with a hat trick in the first quarter alone while Jake Copio scored twice as well.
Chowan (0-3) scored the first two goals of the second quarter, but that's all they would score as the Wildcats scored the final five of the half to lead 12-3 at the break. Keeshawn Bell scored twice in the frame while Giovanni Marion and Jimmy Cava got on the board as well. Miles Crouse finished the half with four goals.
Giovanni Marino got hot in the third quarter for the Wildcats, scoring three goals and adding an assist. The Wildcats scored the first four and the last four of the quarter, taking a 20-4 lead into the fourth and final quarter. Jacob Herman scored twice in the frame while TJ Caton and John Greene notched goals as well.
Giovanni Marino added three more goals in the fourth quarter to finish with seven on the day, the second most in a single game in program history. TJ Caton, Jimmy Cava, and Joshua Leavery all scored as well in the quarter, as the Wildcats poured it on to amass their most goals in a single game in program history.
Marino's seven goals and nine points are second only to Dylan McCleaft's eight goals and 11 points against Chowan on March 13, 2019.
Miles Crouse scored four goals to go with his program record five assists, breaking the mark of four assists in a game set four other times by four players.
Keeshawn Bell and TJ Caton recorded hat tricks while Caton added an assist for four points. Jake Copio and Jacob Herman scored two goals and added two assists each in the game.
Defensively, John Greene led the way with three caused turnovers while scoring up six ground balls. Miles Crouse also had three caused turnovers and seven ground balls as well. Jason Roland and Noah Given each made six stops in goal, splitting the game in half.
Anton Mackey went 18-for-23 in the faceoff circle with eight ground balls in his first game since 2020 while Tucker Plasse accompanied him with an excellent 5-for-9 performance as well.
The Wildcats have a tough challenge with their next game, welcoming nationally No. 5 Mercy to the WU Athletics Complex next weekend. The Wildcats and Mavericks will battle on Saturday, February 26 starting at 3:00 p.m.
