UALBANY LACROSSE OFF TO PROGRAM'S BEST START AFTER 13-10 WIN OVER COLGATE
Albany, N.Y. ? Merrick Thomson tied a season-high with five goals and Frank Resetarits added one goals and five assists as UAlbany held off Colgate, 13-10, in non-conference play on Tuesday, March 27 at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes are off to their best start in the program's history with a 7-0 record.
UAlbany jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period after Mike Ammann blasted a shot from the right side after Derek Dale, who gathered in a loose ball, set him up from behind the cage. Colgate (4-4) would eventually close the gap to 5-4 in the second quarter when Matt Lalli, who had one goal and two assists, scored on a spin move from right of the crease. Thomson would give his team a two-goal halftime margin as he scored over his shoulder with 2:29 remaining in the stanza.
The Great Danes, who had dropped their previous two meetings with Colgate in 2000 and 2001, used a three-goal third quarter to pull away. Thomson, who also scored five times against Delaware earlier this month, netted a shot in transition after teammate Craig McDonald broke up a pass in the defensive end. Freshman long-stick midfielder Brendan Gleason tallied one minute and 37 seconds later after Dale collected ground ball in the defensive half off a stick check. Thomson gave his team a 9-4 advantage midway through the period by driving from behind and finding the net from right of the crease.
UAlbany still led 11-7 late in the final quarter but then scored twice 18 seconds apart. Steve Ammann lofted a 40-yard shot into an empty net when the Raiders employed a 10-man ride near midfield. Thomson followed with his fifth of the game and 150th of his career as Resetarits found him with a crossing pass in transition after Colgate was whistled for offsides.
The Raiders, who dropped a 15-10 decision to fourth-ranked Navy in their previous outing, scored three times in the final three-plus minutes. Sophomore midfielder Brandon Corp, who totaled a career-high four goals and one assist, had a pair in that stretch. Colgate goalkeeper Tim Harrington was solid in the cage with 12 of his 21 saves in the second half.
“We had some opportunities that we didn't take advantage,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team hosts defending America East Conference champion UMBC on Saturday at 12 noon. “I was concerned with our overall intensity. But I think we rode the ball well and made some good face-off adjustments. Mike Ammann is playing well and making things happen in the middle of the field.”
UAlbany's Matthew Green and Ammann each scored twice, while goalkeeper Brett Queener made seven saves and had one assist. Steve Ammann, Mike's twin brother, had one goal and assisted on another for the Great Danes, who are ranked No. 2 nationally in this week USILA coaches' poll.
“It's nice that we got a couple of insurance goals because Colgate is a quality program,” said Resetarits, who extended his scoring streak to 38 consecutive games. “Good clubs know how to close teams out. It is better to be known as a closer than a frontrunner.”
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Colgate (4-4) 0 4 0 6 - 10
#2 UAlbany (7-0) 3 3 3 4 - 13
Colgate ? Scoring: Brandon Corp 4-1, Brendan Hurley 2-0, Joshua Back 2-0, Matt Lalli 1-2, Ian Murphy 1-0, Kevin Colleluori 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Tim Harrington (60:00, 21 saves, 13 GA).
UAlbany ? Scoring; Merrick Thomson 5-0, Matthew Green 2-0, Mike Ammann 2-0, Frank Resetarits 1-5, Steve Ammann 1-1, Chris Schongar 1-0, Brendan Gleason 1-0, Derek Dale 0-1, Brett Queener 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Brett Queener (50:36, 8 saves, 7 GA), Dan McKeon (9:24, 1 save, 3 GA).
