Rockville Centre, N.Y. - The 18th-ranked men's lacrosse program had a standout afternoon today from the RVC Sports Complex, topping the Cougars of Caldwell University, 27-6. Molloy improved to 5-1 on the season while Caldwell fell to 0-2. The effort set a single-game assist record, putting up 21. The Lions just missed the single-game point record (49) with 48. 

How it Happened

• The Cougars would be the first to score with Zakkery Glatfelter finding the back of the net three minutes into the game.
• From there, however, the game belonged exclusively to the Lions. In the first quarter alone, senior Noah Taylor tallied five points on three goals and two assists, senior Luke Hickam had four points on two goals and two assists, and junior Jake Taylor netted three goals and one assist for four points. Goals from seniors Dre Alexis and Ryan Polehinke rounded it out at 10-1 after 15 minutes.
• Hickam netted the first of five man-up goals for the Lions to start the second frame before back-to-back Cougar goals broke the streak.
• The half ended with another 10 goals from Molloy to set the score at 21-3 at the break.
• The home team nearly shut out the visitors in the third quarter and headed into the final 15 minutes of play leading 26-4.
• Caldwell would score twice in the fourth frame to round out the visitor's scoring before a goal in the final minute from freshman Sean Payton accounted for the Lions' final goal.

Top Performances

• Hickam led with a career-high 10 points on four goals and six assists.
• Jake Taylor had eight points on a career-high six goals and two assists. Older brother Noah had six points on four goals and two assists.
• Junior Justin Palulis scored three goals and forced two turnovers.
• Junior Brian Green (one goal, one assist), senior Jack Herzlinger (two assists), Polehinke (two goals), Alexis (one goal, one assist), junior Thomas Kofod (one goal, one assist), Payton (one goal, one assist), and freshman Jacob Faison (one goal, one assist) each had two points.
• Seniors Bryan Diliberto and Mike D'Amato as well as sophomore Michael McClain each scored once with juniors Jaden McLeod and Tommy Corcoron as well as freshmen Zachary Maligres and Carmine Apuzzo Jr. all tallied assists.
• Sophomore Rocco Hogan led with seven ground balls. 
• Maligres went 10-of-12 at the face-off dot and picked up six ground balls.
• Freshman Aiden Dinnigan picked up four ground balls and forced three turnovers.
• Junior Brandon Pazienza went 11-of-12 on face-offs and added three ground balls. McClain and junior Shawn McCabe both also had three ground balls with McCabe adding three caused turnovers.
• Senior Christian Michaels made four saves while junior John Basile had a career-high 11 stops. 

Up Next
Molloy returns to the RVC Sports Complex on Wednesday (Mar. 12) against Chestnut Hill College at 7:00 p.m.