Monks Edge Wildcats, 11-10

Monks Edge Wildcats, 11-10

PORTLAND, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (5-8, 3-4 GNAC) tipped Johnson & Wales University (9-6, 3-3 GNAC), 11-10, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at Deering Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

With goals from sophomores Michael Finn (Quincy, Mass.), Dan Cunningham (West Islip, N.Y.), and Tyler Retalic (Framingham, Mass.), the Monks held a 3-1 lead after the first quarter and, after outscoring the Wildcats by a 3-1 margin in the third, owned a 9-5 advantage heading into the final frame.

In the fourth quarter, Johnson & Wales mounted a furious comeback attempt with five goals – including four strikes from junior Sam Sears (Baltimore, Md.) - in the last stanza to knot the game at 10-10 with 3:45 remaining, but Finn managed to net the winner off a Cunningham feed with 1:31 remaining.

The Wildcats, down a man, made one last push with Sears sending a shot on goal with 18 seconds left, but SJC junior keeper Connor Trainor (Franklin, Mass.) turned the attempt away and junior defender Liam Skinner (Irving, Texas) picked up the ground ball to seal the victory.

THE KEEPERS:

Both netminders were very busy in the conference matchup, as Trainer posted 17 saves in the victory while JWU freshman goalie Bradley Morris (Bayport, N.Y.) turned away 15 shots in a losing effort.

LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:

  • Cunningham tallied four goals with three assists and a ground ball
  • Finn scored twice with an assist and five ground balls
  • Retalic added three goals and a pair of ground balls
  • Junior Matt Donnell (Watertown, Mass.) netted two goals with an assist and two ground balls
  • Freshman Shane Fors (Gales Ferry, Conn.) won seven face-offs and collected five ground balls
  • Skinner added five ground balls and four caused turnovers
  • Sophomore Peter Wood (Gloucester, Mass.) contributed with an assist, two ground balls, and three caused turnovers

LEADERS – JOHNSON & WALES:

  • Sears paced the Wildcats with four goals
  • Sophomore Ben Farrell (Downingtown, Pa.) added two goals and an assist with five ground balls
  • Sophomore Hunter Guzzo (Wantage, N.J) won 15 of 20 face-off attempts with six ground balls
  • Sophomore Thomas Lyons (Burlington, Mass.) netted a pair of goals

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the victory, Saint Joseph's evens up the series with Johnson & Wales University at 2-2. The Wildcats toppled the Monks by a 14-3 score in Providence last spring.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's hosts Thomas College Wednesday at 7:30 PM while Johnson & Wales plays at Albertus Magnus College Tuesday at 7:00 PM.

 

 

#GOMONKS 

 

Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on FacebookTwitterYouTube, and Instagram!

Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 474-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.