MOUNT IDA MEN’S LACROSSE
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Alumni Field, Newton, Mass.
FINAL: MOUNT IDA 22, ALBERTUS MAGNUS 7
NEWTON, Mass. -- Junior Owen LaPorte (Farmington, Conn.) netted four goals to pace a balanced attack and lead Mount Ida to a 22-7 victory over Albertus Magnus in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference men’s lacrosse opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The host Mustangs (1-5, 1-0 GNAC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on a pair of goals by sophomore Dakari Eason (Norwalk, Conn.), and after the visiting Falcons (1-2, 0-1 GNAC) closed back to within one on junior James May’s (Branford, Conn.) man-up marker midway through the first quarter, Mount Ida scored five of the final six goals of the frame (including a hat trick from LaPorte) to take an 8-3 edge after the first 15 minutes of play.
The Mustangs extended that advantage to seven early in the second stanza on LaPorte’s fourth tally of the day, and after Albertus Magnus crept back to within six on sophomore Chris Magnifico’s (Glastonbury, Conn.) man-up marker 4:49 into the quarter, the hosts took control of the contest with 10 unanswered goals over nearly 33 minutes of action. Junior Eric Walker (Newington, Conn.) chipped in with a third quarter natural hat trick for Mount Ida, which built a 16-goal lead (20-4) in the final frame en route to the triumph.
Walker added three assists to finish with six points in the win for the Mustangs, who received a hat trick and helper from Eason along with two tallies and three assists each off the sticks of senior Marcus Donahue (Braintree, Mass.) and junior Kyle Ton (Norwich, Conn.). Junior Matt Curran (Abington, Mass.) and freshman Roman Dennis (Lewiston, Maine) also netted two goals on the day for Mount Ida, which received a marker and three assists from freshman Mike Alibrandi (Holliston, Mass.). Juniors Shayne Rix (Westwood, Mass.), Dylan DiLena (Barre, Vt.) and Luke Townsend (Vernon, Conn.) also found the back of the net for the hosts, who received helpers off the sticks of junior Adam Lavallee (Pawtucket, R.I.) and sophomore AJ Yarrow (Middletown, R.I.).
Magnifico netted two goals and an assist to finish with three points in the setback for Albertus Magnus, which received a pair of tallies from freshman Jayme Toro (East Haven, Conn.) along with a marker and two helpers from senior Brennan Moore (Meriden, Conn.). May added a goal and assist as well for the Falcons, who received a marker off the stick of freshman Jordan Garguilo (West Haven, Conn.).
Senior Cam Hayward (Derry, N.H.) picked up the win in goal by making seven first half saves for Mount Ida, which received a combined three stops from sophomores Joe Varagnolo (Centereach, N.Y.) and Allan Stein (Levittown, N.Y.) in the final 30 minutes of action. Senior Jack Kerner (Merrick, N.Y.) made nine saves in 52-plus minutes of play in the setback for Albertus Magnus, who also received a pair of stops from junior John Brunetti (West Haven, Conn.). The Mustangs outshot the Falcons by a 49-26 margin overall (33-17 on goal) and forced 28 turnovers by the visitors on the afternoon.
Mount Ida hosts Eastern Connecticut in a non-league outing on Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Field beginning at 3:30 p.m., while Albertus Magnus entertains Mitchell in a non-league clash on Monday evening in New Haven, Conn. that begins at 6:00 p.m.
(Photo Credit: Alex Berman)
