Warriors Hammer DeSales for First Win
Cusick, Nairn Lead Potent Men's Lax Attack
Box Score

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. --- Lycoming men’s lacrosse broke out of its early season two-game skid in impressive fashion with a 12-5 victory over DeSales University at DeSales on Saturday afternoon.  The Warriors improve to 1-2 overall, 1-0 in Middle Atlantic Conference play while the Bulldogs fall to 0-3, 0-1.

Sophomore Jim Cusick (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) and junior Tom Nairn (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) combined for 10 goals and three assists in leading the Warriors to a triumphant opening MAC contest. Cusick split his scoring equally, notching three goals in each half.  Nairn did the same with his four-goal output.

Sophomore Matt Lando (Corning, N.Y./Corning Painted Post) had a nice afternoon setting up the Warriors offense with a goal and four assists.  Freshman Ryan Blakemore (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley) added two assists while junior Andrew Reckley (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) and sophomore Justin Dixon (Baltimore, Md./North County) added a helper apiece.

The Bulldogs were strong in the early going with a goal from Josh Van Hart just 1:49 into the contest, but Nairn answered at the 11:37 mark to tie the score 1-1.  Danny Larkin put the Bulldogs back on top a little more than a minute later.  The edge would again be short-lived as Lando took advantage of a man-up situation even the match for the second time at the 6:33 mark.  Nairn added his second score of the period to give Lycoming its first lead at 3-2.

The second period proved entirely different that the first with little scoring through 13 minutes of play.  Cusick took control at the 2:43 mark, scoring the first three goals before the end of the frame to send the Warriors into the half up 6-2.

Lycoming’s unanswered goal-streak hit seven when Nairn and Cusick added quick tallies at the beginning of the third stanza for an 8-2 edge.  DeSales finally stopped the bleeding with a goal from Jon-Erik Stamatelos at the 12:45 mark.  Nairn answered with his fourth score, but the Bulldog’s Dan Thomer notched a pair of goals before the end of the period to cut the Warriors lead to 9-5 going into the final 15 minutes of play.

Cusick immediately squashed any momentum DeSales may have gained with his fifth goal just 59 seconds into the frame.  He and Reckley added the final two Warrior scores with under five minutes to play to seal the victory for Lycoming.

The Warriors are next in action on Wednesday, March 22, as the Warriors travel to Dickinson College.  Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.