Syracuse, N.Y. – The second-ranked Le Moyne College men's lacrosse team clamped down on top-ranked Merrimack College's offense over the final three quarters en route to an 8-5 victory on Saturday afternoon at Ted Grant Field.

The Warriors, who entered the game averaging 14.75 goals per game, struck for a pair of goals in the opening 3:39 of the game. After the Dolphins had the game's first shot blocked, the Warriors cleared the ball before Dom Thomas registered his third goal of the season with 12:27 remaining in the first quarter. Just 66 seconds later, Jack Trask fired home his seventh goal of the campaign.

Le Moyne answered with the next two goals to knot the score at two apiece. After having his initial shot blocked, freshman attackman Devin Andrews (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy/Stony Brook) scooped up the loose ball and dumped it into the net at the 8:01 mark for his sixth goal of the season. Out of a timeout to retain possession, the Dolphins tied the score with 2:56 left in the opening quarter as senior attackman Justin Kesselring (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) finished off a pass from sophomore attackman Jake Lewis (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia/Cleveland State).
 
Merrimack regained the lead with 15.6 seconds left in the period as Charlie Bertrand tallied his 13th goal of the year off a pass from Dom Thomas. Bertrand, last year's NE10 Rookie of the Year who entered the game as the second-leading goal scorer in the country at four goals per game, was held to just the one goal in the contest by freshman defenseman Connor Haims (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon). Today marked only the third time in his 22-game career that Bertrand was held to just one goal (Limestone turned the trick on April 23 and May 28 last year).

Following seven and one-half minutes of scoreless play to start the second quarter, the Dolphins evened the score at three apiece with 7:22 left as junior midfielder Josh Slowinski (Williamsville, N.Y./Clarence) tallied his seventh goal of the season. Andrews gave the Dolphins their first lead of the game with 4:44 remaining in the half with an unassisted marker.

The Warriors responded 58 seconds later with the tying goal as Christian Thomas scored off a pass from Bertrand.

Le Moyne took the lead for good with 42 seconds left in the quarter as junior midfielder Dan Entenmann (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) slipped a shot into the back of the net from the left side.

The Dolphins extended their lead to 7-4 with a pair of goals in the opening 1:55 of the third quarter. Off a save by redshirt junior goalkeeper Jack Sweeney (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Onondaga C.C.) 15 seconds into the quarter, senior two-way midfielder Bailey Wilkinson (Black River, N.Y./Carthage) cleared the ball up field before sending a pass to Lewis, who tallied his 10th goal of the year just 25 seconds into the half. After Kesselring had a shot saved, Slowinski collected the ball out of the air on the right edge of the crease and flipped it into the net with 13:05 left.

The Warriors cut their deficit back to two (7-5) with 10:23 remaining as Kyle Sternberg scored in an extra-man situation off a pass from Christian Thomas, but that would mark their final goal of the game.

Sophomore midfielder Hans Zimmer (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) finished off the game's scoring with an unassisted tally with 9:24 remaining in the contest.

Sweeney finished with three saves (against four goals) over 59:18 between the pipes to earn his 20th career victory. Junior defenseman Zac Prattson (Tolland, Conn./Springfield Cathedral (Mass.)) finished the contest with three caused turnovers and three ground balls, while holding four-time NE10 Rookie of the Week Sean Black, who entered the game leading the country in scoring at 6.75 points per game, without a point. Peter Brown tallied eight saves, including five in the first quarter, in suffering his first career loss.

Le Moyne (6-0, 2-0 NE10), which improves to 7-2 over the last 16 seasons against the nation's top-ranked team, returns to action on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. against Assumption College, who at press time is the only other undefeated Division II team.