Another week, another major upset in the Division II men's lacrosse world. Tampa picked up a huge early-season win over Limestone, just eight days after the Saints fell to Lenoir-Rhyne.
Warrior/US Lacrosse Division II Men’s Preseason Player of the Year Andrew Kew scored six goals, including four in the first half, to help the Spartans jump out to a seven-goal lead and hold on to beat Limestone 12-10 — their first win over the Saints in school history.
In a game of runs, Limestone jumped out to a 3-0 lead and led by two goals at the end of the first quarter. Ben Higgins chipped in a goal in the Saints opening rally.
Tampa’s offense came alive in the second quarter, dropping seven goals (including three from Kew). The Spartans took a commanding 8-4 lead into halftime.
The momentum carried over into the second half, where Tampa scored four of five goals to open the frame. Kew added two more goals in the run that put his team up 12-5 with 13 minutes left.
Limestone mounted a furious late rally, with five different goal scorers helping cut the deficit to two goals, but it ran out of time for a comeback. The Saints have lost two straight games in a season for the first time since 2006.
Merrimack Survives Test From NYIT
Charlie Bertrand and Sean Black combined for eight goals, helping No. 1 Merrimack survive a tough test from No. 5 NYIT and win 16-14. Tied at halftime, the Warriors used a run of five out of six goals to pull away from the Bears.
Christian Thomas had two goals in Merrimack’s 4-0 start, helping the top team gain momentum early. NYIT responded with five out of six goals to tie the game at 5-5 midway through the second quarter. The game went to halftime tied at 7-7.
The teams went back-and-forth until late in the third quarter, when Jack Trask scored two his three goals to reverse a one-goal deficit and give Merrimack a 15-12 lead with less than eight minutes remaining.
TYYYYYYLER what a GOAL! The LI native makes it hurt and we're up 15-12 with 7:30 left | #GoMack pic.twitter.com/YeVzMLte1G
— Merrimack Men's Lacrosse (@MerrimackMLAX) February 18, 2018
Black led the team with seven points, followed by Bertrand’s six points. Matt Chanenchuk led NYIT with three goals and three assists.
Starr Comes Up Big for Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst used a game-winning goal from Colin Greenway in the third quarter to down Wingate 6-5 in a low-scoring affair.
Wingate took an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter behind goals from Gary Pierpont and Alex Llerandi, but Mercyhurst responded with a five-goal run to take hold of the game in the second quarter. Devin Pipher had two goals in the run.
The Bulldogs scored twice before halftime to make it a one-goal game going into the break. Then, Conor Gronbach tied the game with 12:33 left in the third quarter.
Greenway’s goal gave Mercyhurst the lead for good. Wingate outshot its opponent 31-19, but Mercyhurst goalie Alec Starr had 13 saves.
NIKE/US LACROSSE DIVISION II TOP 20 SCOREBOARD
No. 1 Merrimack 16, No. 5 NYIT 14
No. 7 Tampa 12, No. 3 Limestone 10
No. 16 Mercyhurst 6, No. 11 Wingate 5
Division III
F&M Upsets Lynchburg on the Road
Kevin Mollihan and Harry Rice each had four goals to help No. 15 Franklin & Marshall comeback to upset No. 11 Lynchburg 14-11 on Sunday afternoon. Down three goals in the second quarter, Franklin & Marshall ended the game on a 12-6 run to clinch its first win in the past six games over Lynchburg.
Andrew Thomas had three goals in the first quarter to help Lynchburg jump out to a 4-2 lead — which Kevin Rogers added to at the start of the second quarter. The Diplomats responded with a three-goal run to tie the game at 5-5 entering halftime.
Lynchburg came out of the break with the momentum, scoring four out of five goals to take a 9-6 lead with 8:12 left in the third quarter. Rice and Mollihan combined for three of five goals in an ensuing Franklin & Marshall run that gave it the lead for good.
Up 12-11 with minutes left. Rice and Mollihan added goals to seal the victory.
Denison Gets By Washington and Lee
Denison avoided the upset bug on Sunday afternoon, breaking open a tight game with Washington and Lee and holding on for the 12-10 victory. Jake Waxter had four goals and an assist to fuel the Denison effort.
Spencer Butler scored two of three goals in an opening run that gave Denison an early 3-0 lead. Washington and Lee's A.J. Witherell scored four goals in the first half to help his team claw back and take a 7-6 lead late in the second quarter.
It was all Denison at the start of the second half, as the Big Red scored three third-quarter goals to pull out to a 10-7 lead. Witherell and Washington and Lee mounted a rally, but it wasn't enough to completely cut the deficit.
NIKE/US LACROSSE DIVISION II TOP 20 SCOREBOARD
No. 6 Denison 12, Washington and Lee 10
No. 15 Franklin & Marshall 14, No. 11 Lynchburg 11