Buffalo, N.Y. - The men's lacrosse team opened up East Coast Conference play with a resounding 23-10 victory over the Saints of D'Youville University this afternoon from Dobson Field. The Lions, who saw 15 different players find the back of the net in the effort, improve to 4-4 on the season and kick off the conference slate with a victory. D'Youville fell to 1-8 (0-1 ECC). 

How it Happened

• Molloy netted the first six goals of the contest: two from sophomores Konrad Maciejny and Justin Palulis and one from junior Noah Taylor and freshman Michael McClain.
• A man-up goal from Tristan Engelhardt broke the streak before Taylor, Maciejny, and sophomore Tommy Corcoron scored to end the opening quarter with a 9-1 lead for the Lions.
• Senior Jack Herzlinger, sophomore Nick Taiani (first of the season), and redshirt freshman Brian Green extended Molloy's lead to 12-1 before D'Youville netted back-to-back goals. Senior Mikey Rodin scored on a man-up opportunity in the final two minutes of play to set the score at 13-3 at the half.
• Palulis tallied his third of the contest to open the third quarter, but the Saints would score twice to come within nine.
• Maciejny and sophomore Jaden McLeod (first career goal) made it an 11-point advantage for the Lions. 
• A goal from Tyler Vohwinkel brought the home team back within 10, but Molloy scored four in the final seven minutes to lead 20-6 after 45 minutes of play.
• D'Youville outscored the Lions 4-3 in the final quarter, but Molloy hung on for the victory.

Top Performances

• Senior Chris Delaney led the Lions with six points on two goals and four assists.
• Palulis and Maciejny each netted four goals with Palulis adding one assist for five points.
• Taylor, Green, and Corcoron each had three points with Herzlinger and junior Ryan Polehinke tallying two.
• McLeod, McClain,Rodin, juniors Mike D'Amato (first of the season) and Drew Alexis (first of the season), and freshmen Nick Papa and Owen Taylor (first of career) scored in the effort with junior Bryan Diliberto, senior Adam Hyman, and sophomore Eric Schiller picking up assists.
• Sophomore Brandon Pazienza went 13-of-29 on face-offs and led with six ground balls. Sophomore James Franz went 5-of-8 with three ground balls.
• Junior goalie Christian Michaels had four ground balls and forced two turnovers while making 10 saves in net.
• Schiller, senior Denver Tveter, and sophomore Josh Sutherland each forced two turnovers.
• Sophomore John Basile made a career-high five saves in the final quater.

Up Next
Molloy returns to Rockville Centre on Wednesday (Mar. 20) in a non-conference match against Post University at 4:00 p.m.