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LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - For the second year in a row, the Wilmington University men's lacrosse team will compete for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship as the top-seeded Wildcats took care of No. 4 Dominican, 24-8, on Thursday afternoon in the semifinals at Georgian Court.
With the win, the Wildcats (11-3) will play No. 2 Chestnut Hill in the Championship game on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the GCU Track and Field Complex. Chestnut Hill defeated No. 3 Georgian Court in the other Semifinal, 17-15.
Giovanni Marino scored more than the Chargers (6-7) altogether, tying his own program record with nine goals on the day. His ninth goal set a new CACC and program single season record with 56 goals this year. He added an assist for 10 points in the game and is now tied with Logan Stinson with 66 points on the season. Jacob Herman dished out four more assists in the game and now had 39 assists this season, also setting a new CACC single season record.
After the Chargers scored back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead early in the game, it was all Wilmington, as the Wildcats went on a 3-0 run to end the first quarter and scored the first four of the second quarter to lead 8-2 with 9:09 to play before the half.
Dominican scored two of the next three goals to close to within 9-4 with 5:12 left in the quarter, but then the Wildcats scored four goals in 45 seconds, getting goals from Jacob Herman (1:29 left), Miles Crouse (1:19), Layton Avant (1:10), and Giovanni Marino (0:44) to close out the half and lead 13-4 at the break.
The Wildcats put the game away in the third quarter, scoring all eight goals of the quarter to grab a 21-4 lead. TJ Caton, Giovanni Marino, and Logan Stinson all scored twice in the quarter while Jake Copio tallied a mark and Tucker Plasse got in on the scoring with his first of the season.
Giovanni Marino scored his ninth of the game off a pass from Peyton McDonald with 6:53 to play in the quarter before Cole Bauer got in on the scoring with his first of the season.
Logan Stinson aided the offense with four goals and four assists while Jake Copio scored two goals and dished out a team high five assists, tying Jacob Herman's single game program record. Herman finished with a goal and three assists.
Nick Bruhn caused three turnovers and scooped up three ground balls to lead the defensive line while Jason Roland made eight saves. Noah Given made four stops in relief of Roland in goal. Tucker Plasse went 13-for-20 in the circle while Jack Bobel went 8-for-15.
This trio (Logan Stinson (99), Giovanni Marino (33), and Jacob Herman (17)) accounted for 22 points in the game against Dominican.
