Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Apr. 7, 2014) - After over a week off, the No. 14 Molloy College men's lacrosse team used a strong all-around effort to defeat the Roberts Wesleyan College Redhawks, 13-3 on Monday afternoon at the Dean G. Skelos Sports Complex. The Lions improved to 6-4 (2-2 in the East Coast Conference), while the Redhawks fell to 6-4 (2-3 ECC).
Molloy received contributions from five different goal scorers, including a game-high four from both junior attackmen
Joe Leonard (Hicksville, N.Y.) and
Tom Engelhardt (Bethpage, N.Y.). Defensively, senior goalie
John Grebe (Farmingville, N.Y.) made 11 saves, while the Lions as a team prevented Roberts Wesleyan from scoring for over 40 minutes, extending from the beginning of the first quarter through the waning minutes of the third.
The game actually started off in the Redhawks' favor as they won the first two faceoffs of the contest, while Molloy wouldn't have an offensive possession for the first six minutes of the game. Three minutes in, Roberts Wesleyan freshman attackman Matt Benedict scored the first goal of the game.
Then the Lions would take control. Junior midfielder
Tom Turner (East Rockaway, N.Y.) scored the equalizer with under nine minutes remaining in the opening quarter. It was the first of his three in the game. Sophomore midfielder
Peter Clark (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) scored at the 1:47 mark of the first period to give Molloy the lead for good.
In the second quarter, Molloy would get a couple of unassisted goals in a span of 5:30. Leonard would get his first of the day, while Clark tallied the last goal of the half to make it 4-1 Lions, through 30 minutes.
The third quarter saw the Lions pull away, scoring the first five goals of the second half. Leonard had four points in the quarter, including three consecutive goals. Engelhardt then added his first two tallies of the game. Redhawks' junior midfielder Nick Wolak would score with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter, ending a Roberts Wesleyan scoring drought of 41:38.
Engelhardt headlined the play in the fourth quarter, tallying three points as the Lions cemented the 13-3 victory. The three goals allowed by Molloy is the lowest since last year's matchup against Roberts Wesleyan, when the Lions only allowed two Redhawk tallies.
After failing on their first three clears of the game, Molloy went a perfect 18-for-18 the remainder of the afternoon. The Lions outshot the Redhawks 47-22, including 27-14 in shots on goal, and forced 22 Roberts Wesleyan turnovers. Sophomore defender
Dan Grebe (Farmingville, N.Y.) matched a career-high with five caused turnovers, which was also a game-high.
Leonard finished the day with a game-high six points (4 G, 2 A), as did Engelhardt (4 G, 2 A).
Head Coach
Eric Petrullo and the Lions hit the road on Saturday, Apr. 12 when they take on No. 11 NYIT. First faceoff from Old Westbury is scheduled for Noon.
