ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – The St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s lacrosse team (14-7) concluded their season with a challenging matchup against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) (17-2), ending in a 15-5 defeat in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament on Saturday, May 11th.
RPI, ranked No. 2, dominated early, establishing a 4-0 lead within the first quarter. St. Mary’s junior attackman Aiden Doyle broke the ice for the Seahawks with a goal, assisted by senior captain Johnny McGrain. However, RPI’s Cooper Manzi quickly restored the four-goal margin, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
RPI’s offensive momentum continued as they extended their lead to 8-1 early in the second quarter with three more goals. Doyle managed another goal for St. Mary’s, this time assisted by Keegan Preis, interrupting RPI’s scoring streak. Nonetheless, RPI’s Cooper Roman and others ensured a solid lead, with the Engineers up 9-3 by halftime. The third quarter saw RPI shutting out St. Mary’s while adding five more goals to their tally, entering the final quarter with a 14-3 advantage.
St. Mary’s found brief respite in the fourth quarter with first-year player Declan Horton assisting sophomore Joshua Martel for a goal, followed by junior Nate Hochrein scoring the Seahawks’ final goal of the season. RPI’s Manzi added one last goal in the final minute, sealing their 15-5 victory.
Game Statistics:
Shots: RPI 47, St. Mary’s 35
Ground Balls: RPI 39, St. Mary’s 31
Face-Off Wins: RPI 14, St. Mary’s 9
Turnovers: Both teams committed 7
St. Mary’s Highlights:
Aiden Doyle: 2 goals, 1 assist
Johnny McGrain: 1 goal, 1 assist
Matteo Ciccarello: 9 of 21 face-offs, 7 ground balls
Brendan Connelly and Reece Small: 2 caused turnovers each
Cullen McKay: 14 saves, 1 ground ball, 1 caused turnover
Key Season Performers:
Keegan Preis: Led the team in points with 76
Joshua Martel: Most shots on goal with 95, led the team in total shots with 130
Cullen McKay: Led the team in saves with 95
Junior Aiden Doyle emerged as a critical player, particularly noted for his performance in the final game where he was the top scorer for the Seahawks. The season highlighted the team’s resilience and determination, establishing a strong foundation for future success. The contributions of senior players like Johnny McGrain also underscored the leadership and skill within the team.
In summary, the Seahawks demonstrated significant growth and potential, setting the stage for continued success in the coming seasons. Despite the setback in the NCAA tournament, the team’s achievements throughout the season reflect a promising future for St. Mary’s College lacrosse.
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