Men's Lacrosse Wins Home Opener Versus Sixth-Ranked Merrimack, 8-6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Seth Cole - Phone: 802.654.2537

Box Score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/mlax/2010-11/files/mmerstm.htm.
Photos (taken by Shane Bufano): http://www.shanebufano.com/Sports/SMC-Spring-2011/SMCvsMerrimack-3-30-11-mlax.

COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College men's lacrosse team (3-3, 2-0 Northeast-10 Conference) won its home opener in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, upsetting sixth-ranked Merrimack College, 8-6, on Duffy Field at Doc Jacobs Complex.

Freshman Max Zuccarini (Medfield, Mass./Medfield/Quinnipiac) led a balanced Purple Knights' scoring attack with two goals and an assist. Juniors Andrew Buccellato (Glen Rock, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) and Paul Tortora, Jr. (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Prep) chipped in with two goals apiece, while junior Kevin Hunt (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown) and sophomore Marty Vanzo (Westford, Vt./Essex/Univ. of Vermont) recorded a goal and an assist apiece. Freshman Chris Demario (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) stopped nine shots in his first collegiate complete game, leading Saint Michael's past Merrimack for the first time since April 21, 2007.

For Merrimack (5-2, 2-1 NE-10), sophomore Terence Barclay (Babylon, N.Y.) scored twice, while classmate Mike Perdie (Wading River, N.Y.) added a goal and three assists. Junior Brad McAdam (Neshanic Station, N.J.) chipped in with a goal and an assist, while sophomore Connor Reagan (East Lyme, Conn.) turned aside nine shots. Merrimack, the defending NE-10 Tournament champion, saw its two-game winning streak come to an end, and registered its lowest goal total in the last nine games.

Zuccarini opened the scoring for the Purple Knights 2:05 into the contest, and Saint Michael's never trailed again. The hosts pushed their lead to 4-2 at the end of one quarter, thanks to a goal by Tortora, Jr. with 1.3 seconds left in the period, and after each team traded a goal in the second quarter, the Purple Knights held a 5-3 halftime advantage.

Saint Michael's opened up a game-high five-goal lead, 8-3, with three minutes left in the third quarter, as the Purple Knights netted three unaswered goals to begin the second half. The Warriors trimmed their deficit to 8-4 after three quarters, and a pair of goals from the visitors cut Saint Michael's lead to 8-6 with six minutes left in regulation. But Saint Michael's defense held firm for the remainder of the contest, and a pair of Merrimack penalties in the final three minutes ruined the Warriors' hopes of a comeback. 

Saint Michael's held a 38-21 advantage in shots, and an 18-12 edge in ground balls. Merrimack won 11 of the game's 18 faceoffs, but committed 28 turnovers to just 22 for the Purple Knights.

Saint Michael's will look to extend its two-game winning streak on Saturday when the Purple Knights host American International College at 3 p.m.

-PURPLEKNIGHTS-