ST. MARY'S CITY, MD. -- The Oneonta men's lacrosse team fell on the road to St. Mary's College of Maryland, 14-7, Saturday afternoon. Oneonta was ahead for a moment early in the contest, then St. Mary's scored nine unanswered goals during the first half to take an 11-4 lead into the break. Both teams then scored three goals in the second half as the result moved the Red Dragons to 3-4 this season, and the Seahawks improved to 5-3 overall.
"Really tough game today," Head Coach
Pete Owens commented. "The second quarter just wasn't good enough. We still haven't put together a full 60 minutes."
Junior
Aidan Boyle (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) led the team with a hat trick for three points, while junior
Thomas Hnis (Smithtown, N.Y./Kings Park) also recorded three points off one goal and two assists. Freshman
Ryan Babikian (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) finished the day with two goals.
"This is why we play teams like St. Mary's," Coach Owens continued. "To compete at a high level, we need to be constantly tested against quality competition."
St. Mary's scored twice before Oneonta rattled off three goals to go up 3-2 at 4:26 in the first quarter. Boyle fired in his first and the team's first goal of the game off an assist from Hnis. After sophomore
Riley Royals (New Hyde Park, NY/Herricks) recorded his seventh goal of the season, Babikian put the Red Dragons ahead with his first goal of the game.
Following Babikian's goal, the Seahawks scored nine straight goals to take an 11-3 lead with 5:28 left in the second period. Boyle ended the run, and the half, with his second of the game off an assist from senior
Jamie O'Neil (Bath, N.Y./Haverling).
St. Mary's tallied the first goal of the second half, then Oneonta scored three straight to cut their deficit to five, 12-7, at 5:56 in the third. Hnis lasered in his 25th goal of the season on a pass from junior
Ryan Lussier (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills Ballston Lake), then he assisted Boyle for his hat trick and ninth goal of the year. Babikian recorded his seventh goal of his freshman campaign during an extra-man opportunity with an assist from sophomore
Tommy Hyland (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown).
The Red Dragons could not find the back of the net for the remainder of the contest, while the Seahawks scored twice in the final two minutes of play.
Sophomore
Mark Restivo (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) finished the game with 14 saves for a .500 save percentage for Oneonta. Junior
David Trahan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) totaled five ground balls, while senior
Aidan Greene (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) collected two ground balls and caused a turnover.
St. Mary's Ty Spencer ended the day with six saves for a .462 save percentage. The Seahawks were led by Declan Horton with three goals and four assists, and Gavin McKay with six goals.
The Red Dragons are back on the road on Tuesday, March 17, for a contest with Misericordia at 7 pm.
