The Mustang Classic at Stevenson University was the site for a full slate of Division III lacrosse action this week. The first night was capped when Cabrini upset the home Stevenson Mustangs.
Cabrini came into the game defeating number 3 Stevenson last night and the effects could be seen during the first quarter. Will Fallo started the scoring, the first of six goals in the quarter. Turnovers and lengthy possession time keep the Nazareth offense pressuring the Cabrini defense.
Following Fallo’s goal, Dan O’brien, Nick Arnold, Fallo, and closed the run with Luke Wooters scoring the final two. Nazareth controlled the pace and the referee’s regularly used the stall call. Each time the call was issued, Nazareth scored.
The second quarter continued much as the first, as Nazareth scored another three goals en route to a nine-goal lead into the half. Troy Haefele scored to increase the Golden Flyers lead to seven goals. Wooters completed his first half hat trick, assisted by Kyle Fanning, while on an extra-man situation. Luke Longo scored his first of the season with 6:02 left in the half to complete the first half scoring.
Cabrini got onto the scoreboard when Mike Leyden scored at the 13:18 mark of the third quarter. The Cavaliers scored their second four minutes later when James Magnani scored, assisted by Nick Vass. During the ensuing face off, a violation gave the ball to Cabrini in a fast break situation. Tyler Johnston capitalized on the break.
Cabrini kept the run going with a Mike Leyden goal, but Cabrini failed to capitalize on the one minute foul on the play. Nazareth’s lead was cut from nine to five goals with 7:53 remaining in the third quarter.
Cabrini then cut the lead to four when Damian Sobieski scored, driving to the cage, beating Nazareth goalie Michael Cuciti in tight. The run continued with Leyden’s third of the game, getting Cabrini to within three at 9-6 in favor of the Golden Flyers.
Nazareth finally broke the run when Luke Wooters got his fourth of the day when he put the ball past Cabrini’s goalie just as the quarter buzzer sounded. Matt McDermott found Wooters open from Nazareth’s defensive end, just prior to crossing midfield. Nazareth took a 10-6 lead into the final quarter.
Cabrini opened the final stanza with an underhanded goal by Sobieski, assisted by Johnston. Nazareth took advantage of a man up opportunity when Matt O’Neill scored to get the lead back to four goals at 11-7. The Cavalier got back to within three as Sobieski buried a low shot.
With 3:43 left in the game, Cabrini’s Cole Campbell scored on a sweeping dodge from atop the offensive box. Cabrini had a great opportunity to score , but Nazareth’s goalie Cuciti saved the shot in close. Nazareth played to run out the clock in the final two and a half minutes to play.
With the win Nazareth finishes the weekend undefeated, defeating the Dickinson Red Devils yesterday. Cabrini completes the weekend with one win, one loss. The slow start by the Cavaliers was just too much to overcome, not scoring until the second half.
