April 25, 2009
Box Score
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse team received a double-dose of bad fortune on Saturday, first being eliminated from postseason play earlier in the afternoon, and then dropping a 17-6 decision to Penn State at Jeffery Field. Scott Cullinan notched two goals to lead Hawk scorers in front of 1,242 spectators.
Penn State (8-5, 3-3 ECAC) scored seven of the first eight goals of the game and never looked back. Charlie Gorman scored the lone SJU tally during that run with 3:59 to go in the first at 2-1, PSU.
Saint Joseph's (6-9, 4-4 MAAC) couldn't keep up with the Nittany Lions as SJU wouldn't score again until Joey D'Avanzo struck for his only goal of the game with 7:35 remaining in the second.
After two more PSU goals made it 9-2 with five minutes to go in the period, but Tom Dunn cut into the Lion lead to close out the half and Cullinan notched his first of the game to open the second half to make it 9-4 with 14:27 to go in the third.
Four more Penn State goals quelled any thought of a Hawk comeback, pushing the lead to 13-4 with just a couple minutes to go in the third. Cullinan and Drew Mandela scored back-to-back goals to finish the third period and the scoring for Saint Joseph's at 13-6.
PSU added four goals in the final period to complete the 11-goal victory, the largest of the three-game series. Last season Penn State defeated SJU, 10-6, on Finnesey Field. The score was 12-9 in 2007 at Jeffery Field.
Senior goalkeeper Erik Hotaling wrapped up his collegiate career with 10 saves in nearly 57 minutes of play.
The Hawks entered Saturday with an outside chance of qualifying for the MAAC Championship, needing wins by Canisius, Wagner and Manhattan to qualify as the fourth-seeded team. Unfortunately for Saint Joseph's, VMI beat Canisius and Mount St. Mary's defeated Wagner handily to seal SJU's fate. This is the second straight year the Hawks finished 4-4, but missed out on the Conference tournament.
MAAC All-Conference teams will be announced from the league offices some time on Monday. Check in with www.sjuhawks.com for all updates on the All-MAAC squads.
