RADNOR, Pa. – In what began as a battle between the two teams tied atop the Colonial States Athletic Conference men's lacrosse standings, Cabrini left little doubt that it was the team to beat, as it scored a 16-2 win over Marywood on Senior Day.
The club's fifth consecutive win, the Blue and White improved to 10-5 overall and 6-0 in the conference. Cabrini's 93rd straight league win secured the inside track to the number one seed and home field advantage in the upcoming conference's postseason tournament.
Today's game also marked the final regular season home appearance for Cabrini's 13 seniors. Among the most successful classes in program history, the group has led the Cavaliers to 59 victories, including a perfect 25-0 in CSAC games, three CSAC championships and four NCAA Tournament wins.
The Cavaliers dominated every facet of today's game, outshooting the Pacers 54-21 and winning 16 of the game's 20 faceoffs.
Senior
Mike Leyden led 10 Blue and White goal scorers with a season high five goals. Sophomore
Evan Downey added three goals, while junior
Ethan Heisman pared a goal and two assists.
Junior
Cole Campbell and sophomore Pat Regan also tallied multiple points in the win, as Campbell recorded a pair of assists, with Regan adding a goal and an assist.
Senior
Anthony DiNenno ignited the Cabrini offense, going 12-14 from the faceoff spot to go with seven ground balls and an assist. Leyden also secured five ground balls.
Senior
Patrick Nolan forced a pair of Pacer turnovers, while freshman
Tyler Morrell posted nine saves to secure the victory.
While both teams took a few minutes to feel each other out, the Cavaliers took control of the action late in the first quarter. Leyden and junior
Sebastian Kerslake scored goals in a 22 second span to give Cabrini a 2-0 lead after the opening 15 minutes.
The Blue and White then ran away from the Pacers, extending its scoring streak to 11 goals, as Marywood remained scoreless until the 10:32 mark of the fourth quarter.
Cabrini used a 16-4 shot advantage in the second quarter to extend its lead to 8-0 at the half. Leyden recorded a second quarter hat trick, while junior
Kyle Bush and sophomore
Ryan Hannan marked the score book.
Two Downey goals and a tally by junior
Evan Allvord pushed the lead to 11-0 after three quarters.
Marywood got on the board with a man down goal at the 10:32 mark of the final period, but the Cavaliers added five goals in the final period, including tallies by senior
Kevin MacQuilliam Regan and freshman
Josh Moore. Moore's goal was the first of his career, while fellow rookie
Paul Hunsberger recorded his first collegiate point with an assist.
Senior Dylan Swope and junior Scott Slater accounted for both of Marywood's (9-4, 5-1 CSAC) goals, as each recorded a goal and an assist. Junior goaltender Joe Magargal tallied 12 saves in the loss.
Cabrini will close its regular season on Wednesday, when it visits Immaculata University (4-9, 3-3 CSAC). Faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.