RADNOR, PA – After a slow start, the Cavaliers found their rhythm and dispatched of the visiting Gwynedd Mercy University Griffins tonight at Edith Robb Dixon Field 18-3 tonight in their regular season finale.
The win improved the No. 10 Blue and White to 13-3 overall and 7-0 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. The team's eighth straight victory also extended the club's NCAA record consecutive conference win streak to 108.
Prior to tonight's action, the Cavaliers honored its seven seniors,
Evan Downey,
Steve Halko,
Ryan Hannan,
Ben Junior,
Colin McGavin,
Patrick Regan and
Nick Vass, a group that has led Cabrini to 58 victories including a perfect 28-0 mark in Colonial States Athletic Conference games with three consecutive CSAC championships.
In their 299 appearance in the Blue and White, they have amassed 237 points on 158 goals and 79 assists, 305 ground balls and caused 75 turnovers.
While 10 Cavaliers marked the scoring column, sophomore
Timmy Brooks and freshman
Tyler Kostack led the Cabrini offensive effort, combining for 16 points. Brooks posted a career high nine points on four goals and five assists, while Kostack paired two goals and five helpers.
Sophomore
Jordan Krug added three goals, while Downey and sophomore
Bill Morgan scored twice.
The Blue and White dominated the faceoff spot, claiming victory in 16 of 22 faceoffs. Junior
Riley Michaels went 10-15 and earned game high honors with seven ground balls. Freshman
Bobby Cressman won each of his four chances, while sophomore
Trey Critides went 2-3.
Downey and Kostack joined freshmen
Tommy DeLuca and
Matt Nestler with three ground balls each, while fellow rookie
RJ Wolf caused three turnovers, one more than Downey, DeLuca and sophomore
Kevin Delaney.
Nestler posted six saves in 40 minutes of action, before sophomore
Riley White manned the cage, recording seven stops.
The teams exchanged goals in a closely contested first quarter. The game remained tied at 2-2 for most of the final 8:44, but Downey broke the deadlock with five seconds left in the opening stanza.
The senior's goal opened the flood gates, as Cabrini recorded 16 unanswered goals and held teh Griffins scoreless for 52 minutes.
The Blue and White's potent man-up unit took advantage of its chances in tonight's win, as the group went 7-8 with all seven goals coming in the second and third quarters.
Sophomore Ryan Simpson led the Griffins (6-7, 4-3 CSAC) with two goals, while senior goaltender Sean Myers recorded 11 saves.
With the loss, Gwynedd Mercy fell to the number four seed in the upcoming CSAC Tournament, which means it will return to Edith Robb Dixon Field on Saturday for a semifinal round game. Game time has not yet been announced.
In Saturday's other semifinal, number two seed Marywood (8-9, 5-2 CSAC) will host third seeded Centenary (7-6, 4-3 CSAC). Saturday's winners will meet on May 6 in the conference championship game.