March 14, 2009

Box Score

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.--The Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse team was unable to keep up with the Siena Saints on Saturday, dropping a 13-4 decision in the teams' MAAC opener at Siena Turf Field. Sean Evans, Scott Cullinan and Tom Wengenosky picked up two points apiece, while goalkeeper Erik Hotaling saved 14 shots.

Siena (2-4, 1-0 MAAC) started off hot as Bryan Neufeld scored a natural hat trick just 5:51 into the game.

Cullinan would pull one back off a Wengenosky pass for SJU's first marker with 4:33 remaining in the first. Neufeld would add his fourth goal only 38 seconds before the period ended to hand Siena a 4-1 advantage heading into the break.

Evans scored his team-leading 11th and 12th goals to being the second stanza to get the Hawks within one at 4-3 with 6:17 remaining in the half.

Unfortunately for Saint Joseph's, Siena controlled the remainder of the game. The Saints closed the half with two goals and opened the third with two more before Ian Kelly's unassisted tally with 4:47 curtailed the onslaught for the time being at 8-4.

Siena scored the final five goals of the game, helped by Neufeld's fifth and sixth goals of the afternoon to provide the final 13-4 score line. The Saints ended the game on a 9-1 run.

SJU was out-shot 38-17 overall and 21-7 in the second half. The Saints held a 34-16 edge in ground balls as well.

Saint Joseph's will have another tough game next week when the Hawks take on Canisius in Buffalo, N.Y. The game is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.