MEN'S LAX DROPS FIRST EVER CONFERENCE LOSS 14-11

For the first time in six years during a 40 game conference span, the Mount Ida College men's lacrosse team dropped their first ever North Atlantic Conference (NAC) loss, 14-11, to hosting rival Castleton State College Saturday afternoon in Castleton, Vermont.  The Mustangs fall to 3-5 overall, 2-1 in the NAC while the Spartans take over first place in the conference at 2-0, 2-3 on the season. 

Castleton fell behind 2-0 on goals from Zach Jacobson (Shoreview, MN/Moundsview) and Matthew Savage (Peabody, MA/Peabody). Jacobson's came just 45 seconds into the contest off a nifty Derek O'Reilly (East Steauket, NY/Ward Melville) assist. Savage tallied just three minutes later off a Dan Harrington (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) helper.

Kevin McCarthy cut the lead in half with 10:34 remaining, before Savage once again pushed the lead to two. Castleton then reeled off three unanswered goals over the next four minutes, capped by a Michael Martinez marker to take a 4-3 lead. The Martinez goal, his second in the run was set up perfectly by Phil Barry, with Martinez finishing behind his head just above the goalie's shoulder.

Mount Ida answered with the final two goals of the period, and the first goal of the second period to take a 6-4 lead, but Castleton scored the next eight out of nine goals to take a 12-7 lead with 4:37 remaining in the third period.

Mount Ida roared back, opening the final period with a 4-0 run to get back to within one goal, but McCarthy and Martinez scored respective insurance goals to seal the win.

Savage led the Mustangs with five goals and one assist, while Jacobson and Brendan Hylan (Clinton, CT/Morgan) each had two goals. O'Reilly and Anthony DiMarsico (Fairport, NY/Fairport) each had single tallies for Mount Ida. Matt Vernik (Bethany, CT/Amity Regional) (6) and Justin Famiglietti (Peabody, MA/Peabody) (11) combined for 17 saves in the loss.

Martinez scored six goals and Michael Mamunes made 19 saves to lead Castleton.  Following Martinez's six-goal performance was McCarthy with two goals and three assists and Barry with one goal and three assists. Derek Riley scored three goals for the Spartans, while Jake Rick and Ryan Bartlett each scored one. Mamunes was outstanding in net, stopping 19 shots and coming out of his crease for five ground balls.

The Mustangs will host non-conference UMASS-Dartmouth this coming Wednesday starting at 4:00 p.m.