Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/27/13
From Press Release
Impressing one and all in the final home contest of their collegiate careers, the Chestnut Hill College seniors fueled an unstoppable Griffin offense that defeated East Coast Conference (ECC) rival, and defending National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II National Champion, #10 Dowling College 18-8 in today’s home finale.
Prior to the contest, the Chestnut Hill College Department of Athletics and Recreation recognized a historical group of men in annual Senior Day ceremonies.
Once the first net popped, Chestnut Hill College (7-5, 4-2) was on the move. The Griffins netted the affair’s first three goals. The first two came off the feed from senior midfielder Dennis Klusaritz Jr. (Allentown Central Catholic), who first found freshman Michael Plaia at 10:16, before finding freshman attack Tanner Fisher for a spectacular score at 7:58. The third goal of the run came short-handed with an unassisted goal from senior midfielder Michael Duddy at 5:42/
Dowling College (7-4, 3-3) looked to slow the Griffins with the next two goals, 3-2, but that is as close as the Golden Lions would get. Owen scored with seven seconds (0:07) to play in the first quarter to leave the spread at 5-2, Griffins.
He then finished two passes from Fisher in the beginning of the second quarter to extend the Griffins hold to 7-2. By halftime the deficit reached six, 10-4, by the end of the third quarter it was nine.
The Griffins were relentless in pursuit of the goal, putting the Golden Lions defense on their heels with clockwork offense. The game of tick-tack-toe began on Klusaritz’s playmaking. With four assists, a goal, and four ground balls, he finished as one of four Griffins to finish with at least five points. The Golden Lions had no answer for senior attack Craig Owen (Haverford School), who recorded five goals, an assist, and a ground ball.
Duddy also finished with five points, three goals and two assists, as did junior attack Michael Melnychenko, who offered three goals, two assists, and three ground balls. Seniors, attack Shane Morlock and midfielder Nathaniel Tharp also scored in their final home game, Morlock twice to go along with two ground balls.
Senior goalkeepers, Dakota Maurer and David Cutler (Pennsbury) both saw time in net. Maurer played the majority and earned the win (7-5) with 11 saves and a ground ball. Cutler made two saves in the final 7:47 minutes.
Among the members of the Men’s Lacrosse Class of 2013, recognized in today’s Senior Day proceedings, were the College’s first four-year graduates from the men’s lacrosse program; Maurer, defenseman Joseph Rucinsky, midfielder Michael Viviano, Morlock, Tharp, senior defenseman Tom Carfagna (Parkland), and Cutler.
The Griffins will conclude their ECC and 2013 scheduled with next week’s contest, a 1:00 p.m. game at #5 Long Island University (LIU) Post on Saturday, May 4.
