Utica, NY - The Northern Vermont University-Lyndon men's lacrosse team couldn't get much of anything going on Friday afternoon, as they dropped a 20-2 North Atlantic Conference decision to SUNY Polytechnic Institute. It was SUNY Poly's first win in five games this season, and the Wildcats' NAC opener. Lyndon falls to 1-4 on the season and 0-2 in conference.
SUNY Poly's Shane Wyman got the Wildcats on the board with an unassisted goal 45 seconds into the contest and the hosts never looked back. A six-goal run over the first seven minutes, with five different Wildcats finding the net, put SUNY Poly firmly in control. Lyndon's Benjamin Cheever (Johnson, VT) got the Hornets on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal at the 7:14 mark of the quarter, but Poly responded with three more goals, capped by Edward Rosaschi's third tally of the quarter, to take a 9-1 lead after one quarter.
The Wildcats scored three more times in the second quarter, then scored five more times after intermission before Cheever's man-up goal with just over a minute to go in the third quarter broke the Poly run. The Wildcats then added another goal with two seconds remaining in the third quarter, and another in the final period to account for the final score.
Lyle Beeman led the Poly offense with four goals and an assist. Rosaschi recorded an assist in addition to his first quarter hat trick and Wyman also finished with three goals. Andrew Maycock chipped in with a goal and three assists. Michael Baker collected a game high eight ground balls, and Joseph Fontanella caused three Lyndon turnovers.
Cheever was the only Hornet to generate any offense. Anthony Townsend (Pembroke, MA), Kelvyn Abreu (Winchester, MA), and Gilbert Flores (Winstead, CT) each had three ground balls for Lyndon and Luc Parrett (Eden Mills, VT) caused a pair of Poly turnovers.
Joseph VanZandt and Mathew Johnson each played a half in goal for Poly, with VanZandt earning the win without making a save. Johnson made four saves in the second half. Aaron Florence (Lutz, FL) made 28 saves in taking the loss.
Poly controlled play throughout, outshooting Lyndon, 67-9, and holding a 52-17 advantage in ground balls. The Wildcats also won 22 of 25 faceoffs. Lyndon turned the ball over 21 times to 16 for Poly.
Lyndon's non-conference game against the University of Southern Maine scheduled for Sunday afternoon has been postponed. The Hornets will travel to SUNY Canton on Saturday, April 2nd, for a 3:30 pm NAC matchup.
