KINGS POINT, N.Y. (March 3, 2022) – After holding just a one-goal lead, 4-3, at halftime, the USMMA men's lacrosse team used a six-goal burst in the third quarter and the Mariners then distanced themselves even further in the fourth to claim a 19-7 home victory over previously-undefeated Drew University at Brooks Stadium on Wednesday night. The win improves Merchant Marine's to 2-0 on the year, while the Rangers fall to 3-1.
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Senior Jason Aiello
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Sophomore Dylan Lomelo
• Photo Gallery

 
Sophomore Dylan Lomelo (Old Bethpage, N.Y.) and sophomore Erich Diehl (Long Valley, N.J.) both had a game-high five points apiece, with Lomelo finding the back of the net five times and Diehl scoring four times and dishing out one assist. Both senior Matt Groom (Bethpage, N.Y.) and freshman Jack Meyer (Sandy, Utah) both had a goal and two helpers each and four others Mariners recorded multi-point games senior Liam Pickett (Charlotte, N.C.) and freshman Michael Emerick (Damascus, Md.) with two goals each and senior Jack Browne (Summit, N.J.) and freshman Jack Collins (Memphis, Tenn.) with two assists apiece.
 
Also finding the twine for USMMA was senior Zach Hasbrouck (Greenvale, N.Y.), junior Carter Hall (Annapolis, Md.), sophomore Josh Plumb (Portsmouth, R.I.) and freshman Charlie Wahlin (Stafford, Va.).
 
Junior goalie Samuel Stephenson (Boca Raton, Fla.) made eight saves in the 60 minutes to earn the win between the pipes, while also picking up a team-high seven groundballs. Sophomore defender Mark Bredeck (Severna Park, Md.) and senior middie Antony DeJulius (Coventry, Conn.) both had two caused turnovers each, with Bredeck also scooping up five GBs. At the faceoff-X, freshman Chris Neuman (South Huntington, N.Y.) won 13-of-20.
 
It took just over eight minutes for a team to get on the board, as the Mariners struck first at 6:57. The visitors then strung together three-straight (two in the first and another in the second) and led 3-1 at 6:14 of the second. Merchant Marine responded just over a minute later and the found the net two more times before the end of the half to take a one-goal, 4-3 lead at halftime.
 
Whatever first-year head coach Dan Paccione told the squad in the locker room at halftime obviously worked, because the Mariners came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the Rangers 6-2 in the frame to build up at 10-5 advantage. The hosts finished out the game outscoring Drew 9-2 in the fourth to cruise to the victory.
 
For the Rangers, junior Craig Wilkie had a team-high three points on two goals and an assist, while sophomore Brett Spafford added two tallies. Senior goalie Jeremy Gottlieb had nine saves in the losing effort, classmate Tyler McCarthy led all defenders with four caused turnovers and fellow sophomore GJ Nazziola won 12-of-25 faceoffs and picked up a team-high six groundballs.
 
The Mariners are back at it this Saturday, March 5, when they host Western Connecticut State. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Brooks Stadium. Live stats and a live video feed of the game will be available on USMMASports.com with links on the USMMA Men's Lacrosse Schedule Page.
 
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