Defense key to unbeaten Minutemen's lacrosse win over No. 20 Brown
1
2
3
4
5
6
By DAN GIGLIOTTI
AMHERST - Behind a stout defensive performance, the No. 9 University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team Saturday beat its third ranked opponent in its first four games of the season.
The Minutemen (4-0) scored three unanswered goals to begin the second half en route to a 9-6 win over No. 20 Brown (1-1) at Garber Field in front of 1,009 fans.
"The third quarter was the difference in the game," UMass coach Greg Canella said. "The first half was really short possessions and we were fortunate it was 4-4 (at halftime). We settled down a little bit and played a little more offense and had to work for our goals. Fortunately for us, it worked out pretty well.
The Minutemen continued to play solid defense, holding another ranked opponent to under 10 goals, but it took a full half for UMass to establish a rhythm offensively.
The Minutemen had "a good effort, particularly defensively," Canella said. "On offense, we were a little bit uncharacteristic for the second week in a row. Early in the game, we threw the ball away. But, we'll take it."
Ryan Hantverk scored an unassisted goal 42 seconds into the third quarter to give the Minutemen a 5-4 lead.
Then, after a restart in the attacking zone with seven minutes, 59 seconds left in the third, Will Manny set up Connor Mooney in front of the net for his second goal of the game.
With 3:23 to go in the third, Anthony Biscardi scored the second of his three goals to push the UMass lead to 7-4. Steven D'Amario worked around a defender from the left wing side to the middle of the field and found Biscardi on the right wing who threw a low shot on net that skipped in.
"We were in a subbing position. I had a couple steps on the Brown" player, Biscardi said. "I tried to run as fast as I could to the crease. (D'Amario) hit me and I just stuck the ball in the back of the net."
Mooney and Biscardi finished their hat tricks on the afternoon with back-to-back goals in the fourth quarter.
After a slow first half offensively, the Minutemen were pleased to find a rhythm in the third quarter.
"Our defense played great the whole game," Mooney said. "To get a little separation definitely took some pressure away from our offense."
Brown scored the game's first goal with 12:37 to go in the first quarter following a long possession. Andrew Feinberg roamed behind the net before making a run around the right side of the net and a slung a shot past Tim McCormack (10 saves) for a 1-0 lead.
The Minutemen tied the game with 4:52 remaining in the first. A jarring check by Jake Smith in the defensive zone led to a turnover and breakaway that ended with Smith relaying the ball to Mooney near the restraining line. He throw a shot past Bears goalie Matt Chriss (16 saves) to tie the game 1-1.
The Minutemen took three separate one-goal leads in the first half only to have Brown tie the score each time. Leading 4-3 in the final minute of the half, Feinberg found George Sherman coming around the back of the net. He turned a shot past McCormack to tie the game at intermission.
"If you watched me on the sideline, I was pretty aggravated because I thought we could have played better, particularly on offense," Canella said. "But, that's the way lacrosse is played, It's back-and forth and each team, with the type of personnel they have, can score at any time."
UMass plays five of its next six games on the road starting with the University of Albany at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
"That will be a challenge. We weren't very good away from home last year, either, so we hope we can scratch out a couple this year," Canella said.
