PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Albertus Magnus College men's lacrosse team came just short of a fourth-quarter rally, dropping a close one, 12-8, to the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) on Tuesday night at the Scots Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex in Providence, R.I.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Johnson & Wales 12 | Albertus Magnus 8
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (0-2, 0-2 GNAC) | Johnson & Wales (1-0, 1-0 GNAC)
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats opened the game's scoring two minutes into the first quarter on a goal by Joe McIntyre. Albertus would win the next faceoff before a Falcons' turnover led to another goal for the host. Johnson & Wales won the next faceoff and capitalized, sending a third ball through the pipes, this time by junior defender Alex Padula to take an early 3-0 lead. The Falcons held the Wildcats at bay for the next 10 minutes before a shot from Xavier Chioverra slipped through the posts to increase Johnson & Wales' advantage to 4-0. The teams would battle for the next few minutes before JWU ripped off four straight shots in the final three minutes, with the last one from McIntyre finding the back of the net and giving the Wildcats the 5-0 lead.
The Falcons responded quickly in the second quarter, as senior Jayme Toro (East Haven, Conn.) won the faceoff and promptly scored, cutting the hosts' lead to four, 5-1. The teams would clash mightily over the ball the next few minutes before a caused turnover by Cody Walczak (Higgnun, Conn.) at the 13-minute mark gave Albertus possession and set up the goal by senior midfielder Mykel Stinson (Bridgeport, Conn.). Three minutes later, a shot from Zaheim Wilkins (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) deflected off of the cross-bar and into the waiting stick of teammate Walczak, who promptly fired it into the back of the net. Walczak cut the goal differential to two, 5-3, with just under 10 minutes left in the half.
The Wildcats answered the Falcons' rally with Chris Calisto's goal to take a 6-3 advantage. Two minutes later, Toro scored his second goal of the game, cutting the home team's lead to two, 6-4, with five minutes remaining in the half. The Wildcats were not be deterred, scoring two unanswered goals to close out the quarter to take an 8-4 lead into the halftime break.
The third quarter was highlighted by both teams' stellar defensive performances, as just three combined goals were netted over the 15 minutes. The Falcons scored the period's final goal to take a 10-5 deficit into the fourth quarter. Wilkins tallied his first score of the day off an assist from Stinson.
Albertus added to its rally in the fourth quarter, netting the frame's first three goals to draw its deficit to two, 10-8, with 10:03 remaining. The run was bookended by a pair of goals from freshman Kader Price (Walden, N.Y.), both of which came with the Falcons a man up. Wilkins followed suit with his second tally of the day at the 10:28 mark, burying a Jon Olson (Bellmore, N.Y.) pass for the score.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, JWU stemmed the tide by scoring the next two goals to rebuild its advantage to four, 12-8, with 5:36 left in the contest. These goals stood as the final two of the game, with the Wildcats holding on for a 12-8 victory.
In net for the Falcons, junior Dane Walsh (Bethany, Conn.) continued his outstanding start to the season by tying a career high with 18 saves. Walsh set the 18-save mark just three days ago in Albertus' season opener against Anna Maria on Saturday.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus - Dane Walsh (L, 0-2): Shots on Goal 30 | Goals-Against 12 | Saves 18
Johnson & Wales - Chris April (W, 1-0): Shots on Goal 19 | Goals-Against 8 | Saves 11
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• JWU owned a slim 41-36 advantage in shots and a 25-21 lead in ground balls.
• The Falcons edged the Wildcats in saves, 18-11.
• Albertus won 16 of the 22 faceoffs today for a 72.7 percent win rate.
• The Falcons tallied three man-up goals to Johnson & Wales' one.
Albertus:
Zaheim Wilkins: 2 goals, 8 shots, 5 shots on goal
Jayme Toro: 2 goals, 9 shots, 2 shots on goal, 6 ground balls
Mykel Stinson: 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 ground balls, 2 shots on goal
Johnson & Wales
Chris Calisto: 4 goals, 1 assist, 10 shots, 8 shots on goal
Xavier Chiovera: 3 goals, 1 assist, 6 shots, 5 shots on goal,
Joe McIntyre: 2 goals, 2 assists, 8 shots, 6 shots on goal, 4 ground balls
NOTEWORTHY
• Today's game is the seventh all-time meeting between the Falcons and Wildcats.
• Stinson's three points today (1g, 2a) is a new career-high for the senior.
• Walsh tied a career-high with his second straight 18-save game.
• Price has scored in both games this season, tallying a season-best two goals today.
• Walczak has also netted one goal in both games this year.
• Toro won double-digit faceoffs for the second game in a row with 14.
