May 2, 2008
NO. 1 LE MOYNE ROLLS PAST ST. MICHAEL’S, 16-5,
INTO NORTHEAST-10 CONFERENCE FINALS
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College men’s lacrosse
team, ranked No. 1 in the most recent USILA Division II Poll,
knocked off St. Michael’s, 16-5, in the Northeast-10
Conference Semifinal action at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic
Complex. The Dolphins (14-0, 10-0 NE-10) advance to the
Northeast-10 Conference Finals and host Bryant University on Sunday
at 2 p.m. The Purple Knights (8-7, 6-4 NE-10) were led by Nate
Noble’s pair of goals in their season finale.
Le Moyne and St. Michael’s traded goals in the game’s
first five minutes before the Dolphins rattled off five straight
tallies to build a 6-1 advantage. Brian Cost, Nick Gatto and Mike
McDonald each scored a pair of first quarter goals.
Noble scored back-to-back goals for the Purple Knights late in the
first quarter and early in the second quarter to trim the Dolphin
lead to 6-3. But Le Moyne closed the half with a trio of goals
thanks to a score from Brian Welch and a pair of tallies from Jack
Venditti.
The Dolphins pushed their lead to 10-3 early in the third quarter
when McDonald fed Venditti for his third goal of the contest. The
senior-to-freshman connection accounted for three straight Le Moyne
scores in a span that stretched from the second to the third
quarter. Peter Pikulski cut the Dolphins’ lead to six with a
third quarter tally but Welch countered with his second goal of the
day to push Le Moyne’s lead to 11-4.
St. Michael’s added a goal in the opening seconds of the
fourth quarter from the stick of Charlie Niznansky but Le Moyne
ended the game with a five-goal attack. Cost contributed a pair of
fourth quarter goals while Alex Bily, Tom Donahue and Markus
Fallico each knotted scores late in the game for the Dolphins.
Le Moyne edged St. Michael’s in the face-off circle, taking
22-of-25 for the game. The Dolphins managed 61 shots, collected 42
ground balls and converted on 4-of-7 extra man opportunities.
Jeff Hannon stopped 16 shots between the pipes for the Purple
Knights while Doug McIver collected six saves and Bay Stoker
stopped a shot for the Dolphins.
Cost paced Le Moyne with four goals and Venditti finished with a
hat trick. McDonald accumulated six points thanks to a pair of
goals and four assists.
Le Moyne advances to the Northeast-10 Conference Finals where they will host Bryant University in Sunday action at 2 p.m. The Dolphins knocked off the Bulldogs, 8-3, earlier this season.
Michael Bersani - Sports Information
Assistant
SCORE BY PERIOD 1 2 3 4 Tot
-------------------------------------
Saint Michael's..... 2 1 1 1 - 5
Le Moyne............ 6 3 2 5 - 16
Saint Michael's SCORING: GOALS: Nate Noble 2; Charlie Niznansky 1;
Peter Pikulski 1; Greg Lazarus 1.
ASSISTS: Dave Brown 2; Zach Smith 1.
Le Moyne SCORING: GOALS: Brian Cost 4; Jack Venditti 3; Mike
McDonald 2; Nick Gatto 2; Brian Welch 2; Alex Bily 1; Tom Donahue
1; Markus Fallico 1.
ASSISTS: Mike McDonald 4; Nick Gatto 2; Jack Venditti 1.




















