LEXINGTON, VA - In its final tune-up before opening conference play on Saturday, 13 different Hawks scored, including two goals apiece from Chris Daly (Wynnewood, PA/Lower Merion), Dylan Schulte (Southampton, NJ/Seneca/Bridgeton Academy), Jayson Bevacqua (South Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and Griffin Vanderbeek (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata), in the Monmouth University men's lacrosse team's 17-5 victory over Virginia Military Institute, Tuesday afternoon at Drill Field 2. The Hawks, who built a 9-0 lead in the opening half, improve to 4-2 on the year with their third road victory of the season.
“Credit goes to the guys for rebounding after a tough game last Saturday and getting ready for today's game despite a quick turnaround,” commented head coach Brian Fisher. “We got off to a fast start by playing hard and with a lot of emotion from the opening face-off which really helped set the tone for the game.”
Monmouth jumped out in the opening minute as Eric Berger (Ardsley, PA/Penn Charter) connected with Daly who scored just 59 seconds into the game. Schulte registered his pair of goals, both unassisted tallies, a minute and a half apart, while freshman Eamon Campbell (Massapequa, NY/St. Anthony's) posted his third-straight game with a goal with 3:43 left in the opening quarter.
The Hawks continued its attack in the second quarter as sophomore Bryce Wasserman (Southlake, TX/Grapevine Faith) registered his 11th goal of the season before Daly posted his second of the afternoon off a feed from Campbell. John Castellano (Eastchester, NY/Iona Prep/Curry College) assisted on Hunter Jones' (Abington, PA/Abington Senior) second marker of the season before Connor Vanderbeek (Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata) and Grifin Figel (Basking Ridge, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) each scored their first goals of the year to send the Hawks into the break ahead 9-0.
VMI (1-7) got on the board 1:33 into the second half on Wesley Sanders' goal, but Monmouth responded with a strikes from Gordon Phillips (Port Coquittam, BC/Trinity Pawling [NY]) and Berger over a six minute span to balloon its lead to 11-1. Sanders scored again for the Keydets with 5:59 left to cap off the third quarter scoring.
VMI netted the game's next two goals before Kevin Murphy (Lafayette Hill, PA/Penn Charter) converted a feed from Jones to put the Hawks back up eight. After VMI scored with 6:42 left, Vanderbeek and Bevacqua each scored twice while Hunter Rainis (Rockville Center, NY/South Side) scored his first of the year to close out the scoring.
For the game, Daly led the team with three points on two goals and an assist, while Wasserman, Schulte, Chris Summers (San Diego, CA/Westview), Bevacqua, Vanderbkee, Berger, Campbell and Jones all finished with two points.
Junior goalkeeper Nick Hreshko (Warrington, PA/La Salle College H.S.) earned his fourth victory of the season in goal for the Blue and White, making three saves in 39 minutes of work, while sophomore Grant Gillan (Lewes, DE/Cape Henlopen) turned away six shots in nearly 21 minutes of play.
For the game, Monmouth outshot VMI, 36-28, and was perfect 19-for-19 in clear opportunities, while its defense forced 21 VMI turnovers.
“While we are excited about picking up another win on the road this afternoon, we have to turn our attention to the next one as we have another opportunity this weekend with our first conference game on Saturday,” added Fisher.
The Hawks return home on Saturday, March 19th, when it welcomes Marist to Monmouth Stadium for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener at 1:00 p.m. The game is scheduled to be broadcasted live on ESPN3.
