Late Run Helps Coast Guard Pull Away for 7-2 Win over MIT

Courtesy of DSPics.com

THE BASICS:

- Score: U.S. Coast Guard Academy 7, MIT 3

- Records: MIT (5-4 ,1-1 NEWMAC); Coast Guard (7-2, 2-0 NEWMAC)

- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Roberts Field at Steinbrenner Stadium)

- The Lead: Three goals in a span of 2:28 during the fourth quarter helped the U.S. Coast Guard Academy secure a 7-2 win over MIT in a NEWMAC men's lacrosse game on Wednesday night. Riley McNulty powered the Bears, who received votes in the latest United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association coaches poll, with three goals and one assist.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- Coast Guard built a 2-0 lead after five minutes of action courtesy of strikes by McNulty and Will Iorio. The score remained unchanged until MIT senior Graham Davis (Crofton, Md.) found the back of the net with 13 seconds on the clock.

- The Bears increased their cushion to 3-1 on a man-up goal from Jack Pope that was set up by McNulty at the 10:57 mark of the second stanza. The game became a defensive battle as the slim margin carried over into halftime and through the third quarter.

- McNulty ended the stalemate when he connected on a pass from Benner Geurtsen at the 13:38 mark of the fourth quarter. MIT freshman Nicolas Gianni (Henderson, Nev.) buried a transition goal, narrowing the gap to 4-2 with 9:59 left to play. Almost three minutes later, Anthony Wyler fueled Coast Guard's game-ending run as he earned an assist on McNulty's third goal and then scored back-to-back goals to clinch the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Senior David Klee (East Greenbush, N.Y.) tallied four caused turnovers while Davis and sophomore Adam Gumbardo (Babylon, N.Y.) both collected four groundballs. Senior Jack Kelly (Milford, Del.) chipped in three groundballs as junior Alexander Lynch (Roswell, Ga.) recorded 12 saves and four groundballs for the Engineers.

- Connor Ellis led all players with six groundballs followed by three from Justin Edwards. Colin Cashin won seven of 11 faceoffs while goalie Trey Johnson racked up 14 saves for the Bears.

- Coast Guard finished with advantages in shots (36-29), shots on goal (18-16), and faceoff wins (7-4). The visitors were 26-of-32 in clearing attempts and 1-of-4 in extra-man opportunities.

- MIT posted a slight edge in groundballs (30-29) and were 18-of-24 on the clear and 0-of-2 in extra-man opportunities.

- In a series that began in 2015, this was the Bears' first victory over the Engineers.

UP NEXT:

- Both teams continue NEWMAC play with home games on Saturday, April 7. MIT will host Massachusetts Maritime Academy at 1:15 p.m. while Coast Guard will square off with Wheaton College at 3:00 p.m.