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NEWARK, Del. - - In a battle of the two top teams in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference standings, the Wilmington University men's lacrosse team stayed on top with an 11-8 victory over Chestnut Hill on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (5-3, 4-0 CACC) began to pull away in the second half, but the Griffins (4-3, 3-1 CACC) had an answer at the end of each quarter, keeping the game within striking distance. But the Wildcats were able to hold off the surging Griffins and stay unbeaten in CACC play.
With the game tied 1-1 in the first quarter, the Wildcats scored two goals in the final minute of the quarter, taking a 3-1 lead. Ian Betts scored on a one-touch shot from Andrew Dzubak with 46 seconds left and then Dzubak scored with 10 ticks left to steal momentum.
The Griffins answered to start the second quarter, scoring twice to tie the game, 3-3, with 6:35 to play in the half. Max Runcer charged down the right side and fired a shot past the keeper with 4:10 to play, giving the Wildcats a narrow 4-3 lead at the halftime break.
The Wildcats tried to put the Griffins away in the third, coming out and scoring the first three goals. Gavin Paraschak, Dzubak, and Josh Lovely all scored to make it 7-3 with 6:04 showing on the clock. But the Griffins had an answer once against, finishing the quarter with back-to-back goals to tighten the margin, 7-5, after three.
Wilmington again tried to put the Griffins away to start the fourth quarter, scoring the opening three goals. Ian Betts scored twice and then Carter Earl scored to make it 10-5 with 9:20 to play. Josh Weston scored with the dagger to make it 11-6 with 4:24. Chestnut Hill scored two goals down the stretch, but the Wildcats hung on late, getting a good hustle play from Thomas Barton to be first to the ball out of bounds after a high shot from Chestnut Hill. The Wildcats than had a successful clear and ran out the rest of the clock.
Ian Betts paced the Wildcats with four goals on six shots. Andrew Dzubak is the only other Wildcat to score multiple goals, going for two goals and two assists. Carter Earl had a goal and two assists while Josh Lovely finished with a goal and an assist.
Tyler Quinn came away with three caused turnovers and three ground balls while Patrick Crutchfield and Julian Businsky each had two caused turnovers. Gunner Settar finished with five ground balls. Connor Widmer led at the spot, going 11-of-18 on faceoffs. Daniel Flynn made six saves in the win.
The Wildcats have a midweek bye and return to action next Saturday against Felician. They host the Golden Falcons in part of a lacrosse doubleheader at the WU Athletics Complex. The opening face-off is set for 2:00 p.m.
