March 8, 2008

Box Score

GENEVA, N.Y.--The Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse team fell at Hobart, 8-3, on a windy and rainy McCooey Field. Dean Bellos, Scott Cullinan and Steve O'Brien tallied the Hawks' goals, while goalkeeper Erik Hotaling played an excellent game, making 18 saves to keep SJU in it. Hobart (2-1) out-shot Saint Joseph's (0-5) 51-15 in a dominating performance.

Hobart jumped all over the Hawks, after an even 1-1 first period, scoring three goals in the second period for a 4-1 half time lead. The Statesmen defense was tough, not letting SJU clear its defensive zone, holding the Hawks to just 12-for-32 in clear attempts.

Although Saint Joseph's couldn't match the pressure of the Statemen, the Hawks tried their best to keep them out of their cage. Hotaling was instrumental to the cause, frustrating the Hobart attackers, who got off 54 shots.

The Hawks tried to chip at a 5-1 lead in the third period when Cullinan knocked home a shot off an assist by Steve Varga with 5:06 remaining. The Statesmen bounced back, scoring goals at the end of the third period and one with 12:39 in the fourth period to make it 7-2.

Varga connected with another SJU attacker, this time Dean Bellos, for the goal at 8:47 in the fourth to make it 7-3 Hobart. It was Bellos's fourth goal on the season. Hobart fired back, tallying a goal with 6:16 left for the last goal of the game.

Sean Evans (6-12) and Jeff Beall (2-2) were a combined 8-14 in face-offs for the Hawks, one of the lone bright spots for the Crimson and Gray on Saturday.

Saint Joseph's will wrap up a four-game road span in which they are 0-3 so far when they take on the Drexel Dragons on Vidas Field, Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.