New Haven, Conn. – Junior midfielder Justin Bennet (Fairfield, Conn.) scored a season-high eight goals and added an assist to lead the Albertus Magnus College men's lacrosse team past visiting Emerson, 19-13, on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Celentano Field.
The Falcons won their second straight game at home to improve to 2-2 on the year, while the Lions dropped their sixth in a row to move to 0-6 overall.
Bennet paced the AMC attack once again this spring with his eight markers. The third-year midfielder also contributed two caused turnovers and four ground balls. Junior attack Greg Buck (Berlin, Conn.) added four tallies for the hosts, while sophomore Brennan Moore (Meriden, Conn.) found the back of the net three times. Sophomore midfielder Paul Mirmina (Milford, Conn.) had arguably his strongest game of the spring for Albertus Magnus, scoring two goals and dishing out a game-high three assists.
Defensively, senior defenseman Adam Earl and junior midfielder Matt Mueller (Cheshire, Conn.) both caused five turnovers apiece for the Falcons. Earl scooped a team-best eight ground balls, while Mueller had five of his own.
It was a two-headed attack for Emerson as Nicholas Kitsos and Diego Rosende accounted for eight of the team's 13 goals. Kitsos scored five markers and added an assist, while Rosende netted three tallies. Freshman midfielder Fernando Gutierrez was a force in the face-off circle, winning 30 and grabbing a game-high 18 ground balls. The Lancaster, Pa., native also added a goal and two helpers. Defensively, long-stick midfielder Jack Bushell caused four turnovers and grabbed nine ground balls.
Emerson led after the first 15 minutes, 5-3. Over the final four minutes of the opening quarter, the Lions erased a one-goal deficit with three unanswered goals. Kitsos capped the run with his second goals of the day.
In the second quarter, Albertus Magnus exploded for five goals and held the guests to just one to take an 11-6 edge into the break. The hosts started the frame with four unanswered makers to build a lead they would not surrender for the rest of the contest. During the spurt, Buck and Bennet netted two goals apiece.
In the second half, the Falcons stretched their lead to as many as eight with 9:20 left in the game following a strike from Moore to make it 18-10. The Lions would end the contest with two of the final three goals as AMC escaped with a 19-13 victory.
In net, sophomore Falcon sophomore goalkeeper Jack Kerner (Merrick, N.Y.) made 15 saves in over 55 minutes of action to earn his second win of the year. In relief of Kerner, freshman John Brunetti (West Haven, Conn.) stopped two shots in four minutes of play. On the opposite end, freshman Bailey Kennedy turned aside 11 shots in a losing effort for the Lions.
Albertus Magnus held a slim, 42-41, edge in shots and the Falcons committed just nine turnovers. AMC was successful on 26-of-29 clear attempts. Emerson committed 19 turnovers and collected 48 ground balls. The Lions were dominant in the face-off circle, winning 30-of-34.
Albertus Magnus returns to action on Wednesday, March 30, with a road non-conference clash at Mount St. Vincent.
For the latest information on the men's lacrosse team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
