SAINTS SCORE ELEVEN STRAIGHT GOALS

TO PUT AWAY POTSDAM, 15-4

Apr. 3: The No. 12 St. Lawrence University men’s lacrosse team found themselves in tight game through the first quarter of Tuesday’s game with North Country rival Potsdam State. However, the Saints ran off eleven straight goals to put away the Bears by the score of 15-4 in a very physical non-conference game played at North Country Field. Leading the Saints was junior Kevin Russell with five points, including two goals and three assists.

The Bears took the early 1-0 lead just after a St. Lawrence penalty expired when Potsdam’s Jamie Settineri took a pass from Corey Reinhart just outside the goal crease and laced a shot past Saints goalie Justin Demuth at 5:53 of the first quarter.

The home team bounced back quickly, however, with two goals in a span of 57 seconds to take their first lead of the game. Russell tallied his first of five points by scoring the Saints opening goal at 7:12 by ripping a tough-angle shot into the corner of the net, followed by a tally from senior attack Andy Centauro to put his team ahead 2-1.

After Potsdam leveled the score on a goal by George Nolan, the Saints again responded with a pair of goals from Mike Long and Will McKee to snag a 4-2 advantage. The Bears refused to go away, though, scoring the final goal of the opening quarter with only 30 seconds remaining. Justin Wilson-Kirby took advantage of a good break on the face-off and came up with the ball right in front of a helpless Demuth, whom he beat to make the score 4-3 after one period.

Keeping the Bears in the game was goaltender Brian Hondorf, who made eight first half saves for Potsdam. However, his offense, which looked very promising in the first quarter, went quiet as the Saints defensive unit cracked down. St. Lawrence out-shot the Bears 11-0 in the second frame, and in turn out-scored them 2-0 to end the first half with a 6-3 advantage. Goals in the second quarter came from junior Ben Prime and sophomore Kyle Benton.

With the game’s outcome still very much in doubt, it was the nation’s 12th ranked team that established control behind nine straight second half goals to grab a dominating 15-3 lead. St. Lawrence again out-shot Potsdam 11-6 in the third, but Demuth was key, stopping all four of his opponent’s bids on net to again shut them out in the period.

On the other end of the turf, Hondorf made four saves as well, but could not keep the Saints potent offense off the scoreboard. The Scarlet and Brown scored five goals in the period to open up a commanding 11-3 cushion, with tallies coming from junior Cory Yawger, Russell, Benton, sophomore Alex Slauson, and senior Brendan Lynch.

The fourth quarter again belonged to the Saints, with goals from junior Derek Hansen, senior Nick Mastine, first year student Will McKee, and senior Willie Lapinski. The Saints allowed only two shots to the Bears, who scored the final goal of the game with 2:00 minutes to play (George Nolan).

The game was filled with hard hits and physical play, including 16 total penalties for 14 minutes.

St. Lawrence finished with a 46-13 edge in shots and was 12-of-14 in clearing attempts.

Demuth stopped six saves in 54:15 minutes of play to earn his sixth win of the season, while Hondorf make 16 stops between the pipes for the Bears.

The Saints, who improved to 7-1 with Tuesday’s victory, will be in action again on Saturday, April 7 th in an important Liberty League contest with Hamilton College. The game between the Scarlet and Brown and the Continentals will begin at 3:00pm at North Country Field.

RUSSELL AND BUSKEY HONORED AFTER MAHONEY

PICKS UP CAREER WIN NO. 100

Apr. 2: Juniors Kevin Russell and Ben Buskey were honored by the Liberty League on Monday afternoon, as Russell was named the conference's "Co-Offensive Performer of the Week" and Buskey the

"Co-Defensive Performer of the Week." The awards came to the Saints duo after posting a 3-0 record last week, including an 18-2 victory over Vassar College on Saturday which was head coach Mike Mahoney's 100th career win.

Russell was fantastic for the Saints this week as they posted wins over Oswego State, Plattsburgh, and Vassar. The Madison, CT native totaled six goals and eleven assists for 17 points this week, including a season-best seven points (5g,2a) versus Plattsburgh.

Meanwhile, Buskey anchored the Saints defensive corps this week against the Lakers, Cardinals, and Brewers. The Hanover, NH native scooped up ten ground balls and added three caused turnovers as the Saints outscored their three opponents by a 49-12 margin.

Mahoney's 100th career win comes in his tenth season at the helm for the Saints men's lacrosse team, which moved up to No. 12 in this week's polls. He led the program to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 19 seasons last year, and has the Scarlet and Brown amongst the elite teams in the nation again in 2007.

St. Lawrence will be in action again tomorrow, Tuesday, April 3rd against Potsdam State. The Saints and Bears are scheduled to begin at 5:00pm at North Country Field. The game will be webcasted live, and can be watched by clicking here at 4:45pm on Tuesday afternoon.

SAINTS COAST TO 18-2 WIN OVER VASSAR IN

LIBERTY LEAGUE OPENER

Mar. 31: The No. 13 St. Lawrence University men’s lacrosse team built a 9-0 first quarter lead in their 2007 Liberty League opener against Vassar and never looked back, coasting to an impressive 18-2 victory over the Brewers, while allowing their opponents a mere 13 shot attempts. The win moves the Saints to 6-1 on the young season and 1-0 in conference play.

The Saints offensive starters set a fast-paced tone early, and gave senior goaltender Justin Demuth all the support he would need. Seniors Andy Centauro, Willie Lapinski, and Brendan Lynch opened the game’s scoring with three goals in the opening 4:04 of regulation.

It would only get worse for Vassar, who had no answer to the Scarlet and Brown’s offensive attack and stifling defense. Sophomore Peter Carroll scored at 4:51 of the first quarter, with goals by juniors Rob Kopp and Ben Prime, Lynch, rookie Will McKee, and Lynch again to make it 9-0 St. Lawrence after one quarter.

However, it was the home team’s defense that didn’t give their opponents an inch, as seniors Brian Crowley and JJ Hearty protected their goaltender to the fullest extent, not allowing Vassar a single shot opportunity in the opening fifteen minutes while allowing the Brewers to convert only a single clearing attempt.

“I think we’re starting to really find our groove, and the games against Oswego and Plattsburgh this week really kept us sharp,” said head coach Mike Mahoney. “We’ve got two more tough home games next weekend against Potsdam and Hamilton, so we need our seniors to keep leading the charge.”

The Saints continued to pour on the offense in the second quarter, netting the period’s first four goals. Sophomore Alex Slauson scored his lone goal of the contest only 49 seconds into play, followed by Carroll, sophomore Kyle Benton, and junior Derek Hansen to make the score 13-0.

Vassar would get on the board with 2:06 to play in the first half when Vito Cataldo took a pass from Michael Littlefield and beat Demuth for the Brewer’s only goal of the half. However, Centauro answered quickly with a goal less than two minutes later to complete the opening half’s scoring at 14-1 in favor of the Scarlet and Brown.

Though neither team would score in the third quarter, junior goaltender Frank Maguire did an outstanding job in relief of Demuth, making seven saves in 22:42 minutes of action.

The final fifteen minutes again belonged to the home team, as St. Lawrence rattled off four goals to open the period, with tallies coming from rookie CP Rahe, two from Hansen and one from sophomore John Allen. Sean Murray scored an unassisted goal with 12 seconds remaining in the game on sophomore Tom Hollingsworth, who relieved Maguire between the pipes with 7:18 to play in the game to complete the scoring at 18-2.

Junior Kevin Russell picked up an impressive five assists for the Saints on Saturday, and rookie Scott Smith added two helpers as well. Demuth earned the win despite having to make only one save, while Vassar’s Ed Pappo made 15 stops and took the loss.

St. Lawrence will be in action again in a non-conference bout with North Country rival Potsdam State on Tuesday, April 3 rd at 5:00pm at North Country Field.