LAX Tops Green Mountain on Senior Day
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men’s lacrosse
team picked up a 17-10 victory over Green Mountain College on
Monday afternoon, earning a win for its three seniors in the final
home game of their careers.
The 17 goals were a season-high for the Mariners, who improved to
2-9 overall. Senior John
Kearney and sophomores Adam
Grillo and Aharon Wall led the attack with five goals
apiece, a career high for each player. Grillo also added four
assists to lead all scorers with nine points. Wall handed out two
assists while Kearney dished out one.
Green Mountain (1-10 overall) came out strong and went up 2-0
behind a pair of goals from Matt Tarricone. Mitchell responded with
scores from Grillo and Wall before the end of the quarter, and the
score was knotted at 2-2 after the opening 15 minutes.
The Mariners took the lead in the first minute of the second stanza
on a tally by junior Joseph
Rice and never trailed again. Grillo and Wall each scored twice
in the quarter as Mitchell finished the first half with a 7-5
lead.
The Eagles opened the second half with a quick goal, with Tarricone
winning the face-off and dishing to Adi Portojoyo for a score just
10 seconds into the period. Kearney, however, kept the Mariners in
front with three goals in the quarter, and Mitchell led 10-7
heading into the final 15 minutes.
The Mariners sealed the win by outscoring the Eagles 7-3 in the
fourth. In the first four minutes of the stanza, Grillo scored
twice and Wall netted a goal to give Mitchell its biggest lead up
to that point at 13-7. Green Mountain’s Kyle Pike made it
13-8 on an extra-man opportunity, but Mitchell answered with three
straight goals to go up by eight.
Sophomore Joseph Nott made eight saves in goal for the Mariners
before leaving the game with an injury in the third quarter.
Classmate Gregg Jameson played the final 23:18 between the
pipes and recorded nine stops.
Tarricone finished with four goals and added four assists to lead
the Eagles with eight points. Portjoyo also tacked on two goals to
help the cause. Goalie Keith Drinkwine recorded 12 saves against 42
shots.
Mitchell was outshot 48-42 for the game but held a 55-51 advantage
in ground balls. The Eagles went 4-for-8 on extra-man opportunities
while the Mariners went 2-for-6.
Before the game, the Mariners honored Kearney and
classmates Seth Naphen and Chris
Saunderson. Kearney is a two-time captain and four-year
letterwinner. Naphen has played at Mitchell for three seasons while
Saunderson joined the team this season.
Mitchell returns to action for its season finale at Saint
Joseph’s College (ME) on Wednesday, April 26 at 4 p.m.