Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/9/25 – From Press Release
Griffin Scane scored five goals and goalie Emmet Carroll posted 14 saves as the 19th-ranked Penn men’s lacrosse team used a strong first half and overcame a penalty-filled day to knock off city rival Villanova, 11-8, Saturday at Franklin Field.
In the annual Farrell Cup contest, the Quakers outscored the Wildcats, 6-0, in the first half and kept that margin for much of the second half in getting the victory.
The Farrell Cup is played in honor of James (Penn ’18) and Michael Farrell, who tragically lost their lives in a car accident in 2021. James played four years of collegiate lacrosse at Penn and was the team captain in 2018, while Michael was a student in the Villanova School of Business and was the team captain of Villanova’s club lacrosse team.
Penn leveled its record at 3-3, while Villanova fell to 2-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn struck six consecutive times to open the game over the first 32:52 and led, 6-0, at the half. Villanova shot seven times on goal and 16 total in the first half but was unable to capitalize.
Scane recorded a hat trick in the first half for the Quakers.
To begin the second half, the Wildcats scored the first three goals, halving the deficit.
Quinton Cepiel, Colin Michener (Penn Charter), and David Link all tallied a goal, which forced the Quakers to take a timeout. Penn then outscored the Wildcats 3-2 for the remainder of the quarter, pulling away to take a 9-5 lead.
To start the fourth, the Wildcats cut back within three on Cepiel’s second goal of the game on a scoop and score, picking up the rebound from a Luke Raymond shot. Penn was able to expand their lead out to 11-6, turning the valiant effort by VU unlikely.
With less than two minutes remaining, Jake Melchionni scored on a beautiful sequence after Brett Mallee (la Salle) blocked a shot, causing a turnover and sending it up the field to the sophomore. Melchionni had a standout game in his first game back in competition since Lehigh due to injury. He also dished out an assist, caused a turnover, and had six ground balls.
In addition to the assist, Mallee caused three total turnovers and scooped up three ground balls.
To round out the scoring for the Wildcats, Licata recorded his second goal of the game on a diving attempt off an assist from Gavin Michener (Penn Charter) as time expired to bring the final score to within three.
For Penn, Cam Rubin scored twice, and Ben Smith had three assists while sophomore Nate Lucchesi (Radnor) had a goal and an assist as well as a groundball. Lucchesi’s freshman brother, Nick Lucchesi (Radnor), also was a starter, for Villanova, and contributed one groundball.
In the cage, Denis Fargione made his first career appearance against a ranked opponent and made nine saves. The freshman also forced a turnover and picked up four ground balls.
Villanova’s faceoff unit, comprised of Sandoval and Ryan Cunningham (Salesianum School, 4/7), went 15-23 on the day, with the graduate student leading in attempts 11-16, playing to a (.688%) clip. Sandoval recorded six consecutive wins to start the contest.
Penn goalie, and Tewaaraton Award Watch List nominee, Emmet Carroll had 14 saves, including eight in the first half while holding the ‘Cats scoreless.
