Play of the Week

WINCHESTER, VA – The Alfred University men's lacrosse team fell to host Shenandoah University during its first game of spring break on Wednesday evening at Sprint Field/Shentel Stadium.
 
The Saxons (2-2) were led by junior attack Jake Lynch (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) with seven points on four assists and three goals. Senior midfielders Derek Bishopp (Livonia, NY/Livonia) and Nick Skibitsky (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) also scored hat tricks and added assists to follow Lynch with four points each.
 
Defensively, freshman Shane Weber (Hull, MA/Hull) was the only Saxon to cause more than one turnover as he forced three on the day. He finished the game with three ground balls as Alfred University was led in that category by senior long-stick midfielder Chris Deisenroth (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) who had four to go along with his one caused turnover.
 
The Saxons got off to a slow start in the first half, only managing one goal in the first quarter and two in the second.  AU's first goal came at 9:41 in the first period from Skibitsky, cutting the Hornets' lead in half, 1-2. Shenandoah would go on to score the next six goals in the first and second quarters before Lynch ended the spree at 6:51 in the second off an assists from sophomore attack Anthony Ricottilli (Cortland, NY/Cortland). Junior midfielder Brett McMichael (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan) received a pass from Lynch just over three minutes later for his first score of the game, bringing it to a Hornets' 8-3 lead.
 
The Saxons' big push for a comeback was in the third quarter as they outscored Shenandoah 6-5 in the period. On three occasions, Alfred University was able to bring the score within four goals but the Hornets' offense held the comeback off.
 
The Saxons' come-from-behind hopes were dashed in the fourth quarter as Shenandoah tacked on another five goals whereas the Saxons only managed two.
 
Junior Drew Gardner (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) was credited with the goalie loss with four saves and nine goals allowed, bringing his record to 2-2. Sophomore Brandon Smith (Queens, NY/The Governor's Academy) started the second half, making three saves and allowing seven while junior Chris Bucciarelli (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) closed out the final 10 minutes, stopping three and allowing three.
 
The Saxons will next take on The College at Wooster on Saturday, March 11 at 3:00 pm at Hood College in Frederick, MD to close out their spring break schedule.