MEN'S LAX STINGS HORNETS IN NAC QUARTERS 18-1

Seven Mount Ida College men’s lacrosse players scored two goals or more en route to an 18-1 stinging against visiting Lyndon State College in the quarterfinal round of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) post-season tournament Saturday in Newton, Massachusetts.  The number one seed Mustangs, who have won their fourth league contest in a row spilling over from the regular season, improve to 11-6 going a perfect 10-0 in conference play.  The Hornets end their 2010 season going 3-10 overall, 2-8 in conference competition. 

The Mustangs notched the first three goals of the contest with two goals from senior transfer Brandon Keith (Barnstable, MA/Barnstable) and one score from junior Paul Battapaglia (Clinton, CT/Morgan) to lead 3-0 through 14 minutes of the first quarter.

The visitors got on the board with about a minute to go in the first frame on an unassisted goal by freshman Teague Cyle (Tilton, NH) trailing 3-1. 

Mount Ida reeled off the next 15 goals through three quarters for the commanding 18-1 quarterfinal victory sending the Mustangs into the semifinals against either St. Joseph’s College (ME) or Maine Maritime Academy next Wednesday at Mount Ida.

Junior Matt Savage (Peabody, MA/Peabody) led the charge for the Mustangs with three goals and two assists on six total shots.  Senior’s Keith, Christopher Prophete (Waltham, MA/Waltham), Michael Simone (Dover, NH/St. Thomas Aquinas), junior’s Battapaglia, Dan Harrington (Westford, MA/Westford Academy), and freshman Nick Yacuzzi (Oakham, MA/St. John’s) all notched two scores a piece during the romping.  Junior Derek O’Reilly (East Setuaket, NY/Ward Melville) was solid all game with one goal and a game leading four assists.  Sophomore Brendan Hylan (Clinton, CT/Morgan) and freshman John Whelan (Cranston, RI/Bishop Hendricken) added one each.

Junior captain Derek Broughton (Peabody, MA/Peabody) was his unselfish self chipping in three assists.  Prophete, Harrington, Yacuzzi, and junior Pat McGovern (Bristol, RI/Mt. Hope) tallied an assist a piece.

Mount Ida split all three goaltenders in net starting in the first quarter with sophomore Jimmy McAllister (Smithfield, RI/LaSalle Academy) notching five saves.  Sophomore Craig Naftal (Bellmore, NY/JFK) took duties for the second and third frames with zero saves.   Freshman Chandler Webb (Quincy, MA/Bishop Hendricken (RI)) saw the final set with two stops.  Hornets’ goaltender, sophomore Christian Henault (St. Johnsbury, VT), saw 55 shots by the Mustangs adding 16 saves. 

Mount Ida senior Matt Vernik (Bethany, CT/Amity Regional) was again disgustingly good as he has been all season going a perfect 19-19 from the middle circle picking up 13 groundballs.  The Mustangs dominated every statistical category for the entire contest. The Mount Ida defense was devastating all day surrendering only one score for the entire contest.

Mount Ida will host the semi-final round this coming Wednesday with the time TBA against either St. Joe’s or Maine Maritime.