LAX Can't Get Going at St. Joseph's

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. -- The Mitchell College men's lacrosse team dropped a 23-3 decision at St. Joseph's College (LI) on Tuesday evening at Danzi Stadium.

Casey Hickey scored twice and dished out five assists to lead St. Joseph's in its home opener. He led all players in assists and points and formed a potent partnership with Matt Prokesch, who scored a game-best four goals in his SJC debut. Also recording hat tricks were Michael Benasutti and Zak Jones. Jack Murray scored twice and Connor Casillo went for a goal and two assists.

Rookie Jesse McKeever, who was tabbed New England Collegiate Conference Rookie of the Week on Monday, netted a pair of goals to pace the Mariners. He also assisted on Mitchell's third goal, which was scored by Jade Shields. Goalie Marcel Quinlan finished with nine saves against 45 shots.

St. Joseph's got on the board early when Declan Canevari won the game's opening faceoff and beat the Mitchell keeper 21 seconds into the contest. Hickey had a hand in four of the next six goals as SJC went up 7-0 by the end of the first quarter.

Five more tallies in the second widened the gap to 12 goals, but 19 seconds into the third quarter Mitchell finally got on the board with a man-up tally. Back-to-back scores from Prokesch made it a 13-goal game (14-1) 1:30 later, and at the start of the fourth it was a 19-3 lead for the hosts.

Casillo posted all three of his points in the fourth, a quarter in which the Golden Eagles struck an additional four times to clinch a 23-3 victory.

St. Joseph's outshot the Mariners 45-19 and scooped up 74 ground balls to Mitchell's 23. Eight of those were credited to Canevari, who also went 13-for-15 on faceoffs.

Mitchell (0-3 overall) will next play at Albertus Magnus College on Wednesday, March 7 at 4 p.m.