Providence, R.I. – The Albertus Magnus College men's lacrosse team fell on the road to Johnson & Wales, 16-8, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Wednesday evening at Scotts Athletic Complex.
With their second straight GNAC setback, the Falcons move to 3-4 on the year and 0-2 in league play, while the Wildcats bounced back from a non-league loss to improve to 6-5 overall and 2-0 in conference contests.
It was a two-headed attack for the guests as juniors Justin Bennet (Fairfield, Conn.) and Greg Buck (Berlin, Conn.) both netted three goals and added an assist. Sophomore attack Brennan Moore (Meriden, Conn.) contributed two goals for the Falcons. Defensively, senior defender Adam Earl (Hamden, Conn.) recorded two caused turnovers and five ground balls.
In the face-off circle, Bennet won 8-of-17 and scooped a game-high 11 ground balls.
For Johnson & Wales, Max Stone netted four goals to go along with a helper, while Carler Lyle chipped in three markers.
The Wildcats opened the game on a 4-0 run over the first three minutes and 15 seconds of play capped by a strike from Stone. The Falcons ended the opening quarter on a 2-1 run thanks to a pair of goals from Buck to trail 5-2 heading into the second.
In the second frame, the Wildcats outscored AMC, 3-1, to take an 8-3 lead into the break. Bennet scored the lone Falcon tally in the stanza.
JWU pulled away in the third quarter with six goals, while keeping Albertus Magnus off the board. In the period, Lyle potted all three of his goals to give the hosts a 14-3 frame.
AMC outscored Johnson & Wales, 5-2, in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late as JWU escaped with their sixth win of the spring. Moore, Bennet and Buck all scored twice in the fourth for the guests.
In net, Falcon sophomore Jack Kerner (Merrick, N.Y.) turned aside 18 shots in a losing effort for the guests. In relief of Kerner, Albertus Magnus freshman John Brunetti (West Haven, Conn.) made four saves in 15 minutes of play. On the opposite end, three different goalkeepers saw time for the Wildcats.
JWU outshot the Falcons, 54-28, and won 17-of-26 face-offs.
Albertus Magnus returns to action on Saturday, April 9, with a road GNAC clash with Saint Joseph's (Maine) that is slated to begin at 1:00 pm. The Falcons are looking to avenge a 13-7 loss to the Monks at home last spring.
For the latest information on the men's lacrosse team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
