April 12, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse team wasted an outstanding defensive effort en route to a 5-4 loss at the hands of Providence on Saturday afternoon. Despite SJU spotting the Friars a 3-0 lead after one period, Saint Joseph's (2-9, 2-3 MAAC) supplied the tempo and controlled possession the rest of the game. The five goals first-place Providence (5-5, 5-0 MAAC) was held to were SJU's lowest goal output by an opponent in 2008.
When the Hawks fell behind early, it had all the earmarks of the two previous Saint Joseph's defeats. In those two games to VMI and Canisius, SJU allowed both of those teams to run out to 4-0 first period leads and hold on to victory. The story was similar today when Providence connected on three of their first six shots to knock Saint Joseph's back on its heels.
The Hawks fired back in the second period, thoroughly dominating the Friars on the field, but not on the scoreboard. SJU out-shot Providence 11-2, but put just one goal on the board thanks to Chris O'Neill with 8:42 remaining in the second stanza, leaving the Friars with a 3-1 lead going into halftime. O'Neill's goal was assisted by Steve Varga
The second half saw the Hawks' momentum continue as the O'Neill-Varga combination connected again for SJU's second goal of the game. This time around, Varga scored the goal and O'Neill provided the pass with 10:35 to go.
Less than 90 seconds later, Providence's John Tunney committed a slashing penalty, which led to an SJU man-up opportunity. Scott Cullinan, the team leader in goals and man-up goals this season, made a quick cut to the right side of the goal and rifled one home to tie the game up at three goals apiece. It was the first man-up goal the Friars have given up this season in MAAC play.
The Hawks played tight defense after that, almost forcing PC into a couple of turnovers. However, an ill-advised gamble on a pass by SJU's goalkeeper Erik Hotaling, allowed the Friars' Devin McBride to launch a laser pass to Bennett Murphy, who put the ball away for a 4-3 Providence lead.
PC righted itself after giving up three consecutive Hawk goals and held strong through the fourth period, scoring the would-be game winner with 13:06 to play. SJU struggled to assert itself on offense, but a clever play by Andrew Mandela allowed him to get free and make a leaping tally to cut the lead to one at 5-4 wit 7:12 remaining. The Hawks had a late opportunity when Steve O'Brien fired a low shot that keeper Robert Bryan saved to seal the win for Providence.
Robert, the MAAC leading goalkeeper was stellar today, making 13 saves, while his counterpart, Hotaling made seven saves in the loss. SJU will have a chance to break its three-game losing streak against Mount St. Mary's on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. on Finnesey Field.
