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UMass deals Hobart 17-12 setback
April 14, 2007
GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College lacrosse team scored the most goals against the Massachusetts defense this season, unfortunately, the Minutemen did the same to the Statesmen defense. UMass came out on top of a 17-12 ECAC Lacrosse League decision on McCooey Field this afternoon.
A well balanced Hobart attack saw eight players crack the scoring column, paced by junior attackman Jamie Kirk (Salisbury School/Orangeville, Ont.), who netted two goals and added two assists. He has 31 helpers on the year, tied for 17th on Hobart’s single season list. Junior attackman Daryl Veltman (Salisbury School/Georgetown, Ont.), senior midfielder Chris David (Georgetown Prep/Silver Springs, Md.) and freshman midfielder Mike Suits (CBA/Jamesville, N.Y.) all contributed a pair of goals.
The Minutemen offense mirrored Hobart’s balance, as 11 different players scored. Leading the way was sophomore attackman Jim Connolly (North Andover/North Andover, Mass.) who registered a game-high five goals. Supporting Connolly was senior midfielder Brian Jacovina (Holy Trinity/Hicksville, N.Y.) and junior midfielder Rory Pedrick (Saratoga/Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) who both recorded a goal and three assists.
Massachusetts won the ground ball battle 40-33 and gave Hobart fits in the transition game. The Minutemen failed on just four of their 23 clear attempts, while riding the Statesmen 10 times, creating several scoring opportunities in transition.
The final result hinged on the second and third quarters. After the squads fought to a 4-4 first quarter draw, UMass netted five of the first six goals of the second stanza to build a 9-5 lead. Kirk got the Hobart offense back on track by setting up a goal by senior James Dussich (Manhasset/Manhasset, N.Y.) and scoring one of his own in the final three minutes of the half.
Hobart trailed 9-7 at the break.
The Massachusetts defense was perfect in the third quarter, limiting Hobart to just eight shots. All but junior Nick Currie’s (Corning East/Corning, N.Y.) were wide, while Currie, who had a goal and an assist, hit the crossbar. Meanwhile, the Minuteman offense rattled off five unanswered scores, including a pair by sophomore attackman Tim Balise (Minnechaug/Wilbraham, Mass.).
First-year goalie Max Silberlicht (New Hartford/New Hartford, N.Y.) made seven saves in the first 38 minutes before yielding to senior Brandon Baer (Locust Valley/Bayville, N.Y.) who made five stops in relief. UMass sophomore goalie Doc Schneider (Massapequa/Massapequa, N.Y.) finished with eight saves, including six in the fourth quarter.
Hobart refused to go down without a fight, winning the fourth quarter 5-3. Veltman deposited both of his goals in the final 15 minutes.
The Statesmen are back in action on April 21 when they travel to New York City to take on the Red Storm from St. John’s in an ECAC lacrosse league match up at 1 p.m.