PORTLAND, ME - Sophomore goalie Christopher Driscoll (Saco, Maine) recorded 15 saves to backstop Saint Joseph's College to a 6-5 victory over University of Southern Maine in a non-conference men's lacrosse game played Monday afternoon at a cold and blustery Memorial Field.
The win evens the Monks overall record at 1-1. The game was the season opener for the Huskies.
Driscoll was strong throughout the contest, particularly in the second half when the Huskies had a decided 27-8 edge in shots. The second-year goalie registered four saves in the third period, and six more in the final quarter to protect the Monks lead.
Junior Benson Pasquarello (Kennebunk, Maine) led the Monks offensively with two goals and an assist. Sophomore Spencer Hunt (Jeffersonville, Vt.) had a goal and two assists, and junior Jonathan Horgan (Hingham, Mass.) chipped in with a goal and an assist.
Junior Kayle Hamilton (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) had a game-high three goals to pace the Huskies' attack. Sophomores Marc Stannard (Wilder, Vt./Hartford) and Mike Orlando (Hanover, Mass.) had the other Husky goals. Sophomore goalie Kyle Dussault (Lewiston, Maine) finished the game with seven saves.
Hunt put the Monks up 1-0 late in the first quarter with the only goal of the period as both teams struggled with the slippery turf and blustery conditions.
Junior Paul Dolewa (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) doubled the lead early in the second quarter with the first of four man-up goals by the Monks. Hamilton got the Huskies on the board with an individual effort with 11:16 remaining. Pasquarello netted a man-up goal late in the quarter to make 3-1 at halftime.
Hamilton again pulled USM within one early in the third quarter, but Horgan answered back in the final minute.
Pasquarello and rookie Zachary Chaisson (Concord, N.H./Bishop Brady) sandwiched Hamilton's third tally to make it 6-3 for the Monks with 7:50 to play. Stannard netted the Huskies only man-up goal with 6:59 remaining, and Orlando got the Huskies back within one with 3:26 to play.
Driscoll held the fort, getting some help from the pipes, as the Huskies pressed offensively, but failed to get an equalizer.
For the Monks, the win marks the first over the Huskies in the three-year history of the program. In the previous three meetings between the in-state rivals, USM had outscored St. Joe's by a combined score of 54-14.
The game's goal total is the second lowest in SJC men's lacrosse history. The lowest scoring contest was an 8-2 loss to Maine Maritime on March 30th, 2008.
Southern Maine hits the road Thursday (4:00 p.m.) for a game at the University of New England. St. Joseph's will be back on the Memorial Field turf on Wednesday (4:45 p.m.) hosting Thomas College.
COURTESY OF USM SPORTS INFORMATION
