April 16, 2005

Chris David matched his career-high with four goals against UMass. (Photo by K. Colton/SportsPics.net)

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart jumped out to a 7-4 lead on the 10th-ranked University of Massachusetts lacrosse team, but the Minutemen rallied for a 14-12 ECAC Lacrosse League victory on Boswell Field this afternoon. The win improves UMass to 8-2 overall, 3-1 in the ECAC, while the Statesmen slip to 5-5, 1-3.

Hobart’s fast start was due in large part to the offensive fireworks of midfielder Chris David (Georgetown Prep/Silver Springs, Md.). The sophomore scored the game’s opening goal 57 seconds into the contest. The team’s traded goals over the next five minutes to even the game at 2-2. David then scored back-to-back tallies 38 seconds apart for his fourth hat trick of the season. He led the Statesmen with four goals.

First-year attackman Daryl Veltman (Salisbury School/Georgetown, Ontario) continued Hobart’s run, scoring at the 8:28 mark of the first quarter and setting up junior attackman Mike Conklin (West Genesee/Syracuse, N.Y.) 25 seconds into the second quarter. The four unanswered goals gave Hobart a 6-2 lead. Veltman matched David’s four points with a goal and three assists, while Conklin contributed three goals.

The Minutemen, who boast the No. 10 scoring offense in the nation, used a 5-1 scoring surge to deadlock the game, 7-7, at halftime. Junior attackman Sean Morris (Marshfield/Marshfield, Mass.) keyed the run with the first and last goal in the series. He finished with a game-high eight point on five goals and three assists.

UMass continued to roll to start the second half, netting four of the first five goals to build an 11-8 lead. Senior attackman Gene Tundo (Orchard Park/Orchard Park, N.Y.) recorded the 11th Minuteman goal at 6:42 of the third quarter. He finished with three goals and an assist.

The teams traded goals over the final 17 minutes as the Statesmen closed to within two on four separate occasions, but could not get any closer.

Hobart dominated the faceoff X, as sophomore John Soden (Delbarton/Chester, N.J.) won 22-of-30 against UMass. The Statesmen also held a 41-36 advantage on shots and picked up 38 ground balls to the Minutemen’s 34.

Midfielder Nate Molinari (Oswego/Oswego, N.Y.) also record four points for the Statesmen on two goals and two assists.

Senior goalie Bill Schell (Mahopac/Mahopac, N.Y.) made 12 saves to earn the win, while senior Dan Valente (Mount Hebron/Ellicott City, Md.) turned away seven shots for Hobart.

The Statesmen are back in action on April 23, when they travel to St. John’s University for another ECAC matchup. Faceoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.