Record-setting performances by junior attack Matt Springer and senior midfield Tyler Perrelle propelled the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team to a 13-6 defeat of Manhattan Saturday at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
Just 67 seconds into the game, Springer found the back of the net to spark a 5-0 Binghamton (3-3) first quarter. It was the first of a team-high five goals for Springer, who became the new program leader in career hat tricks and career goals with his third score of the day. His hat trick total now stands at nine while his goal total rose to 69.
With a goal of his own at the 14:06 mark of the fourth quarter, Perrelle tallied the 98th point of his career, also a program record.
The Jaspers (1-6) couldn’t bounce back after the first quarter, when Springer scored twice and junior midfield Michael Antinozzi, sophomore midfield J.T. Hauck and junior attack Brandon Planck recorded a goal apiece. Sophomore attack Tucker Nelson assisted three of the scores, and finished with a career-high five assists on the game.
Manhattan junior midfield Patrick Hodapp broke the shutout with an unassisted goal at the 9:31 mark of the second quarter, but Springer, Planck and Antinozzi struck with three unanswered scores to extend Binghamton’s lead to 8-1.
Though the Jaspers responded with a 3-1 run to enter the fourth quarter down 9-4, Springer and Perrelle quelled the rally with goals in the opening minute of the final frame.
“I thought we came out ready to play, scoring four or five quick goals to start the game,” BU head coach Scott Nelson said, according to a press release on www.bubearcats.com. “I give [Manhattan] credit, they hustled and fought all day. They made it difficult on us at times, but to our credit we battled through it and played a pretty complete game on both sides of the ball.”
Springer and Nelson led both sides with five points apiece while Planck, who recorded a hat trick and an assist, finished with four. Antinozzi tallied two goals, and Hauck, Perrelle and junior midfield Kelly Donigan each added one to round out Binghamton’s scoring.
Despite the lopsided score, Manhattan sent 21 shots on goal compared to Binghamton’s 22. Bearcat junior goalkeeper Max Schefler recorded 14 saves while allowing six goals in 57 minutes of action, lowering his goals against average to 7.91 per game.
With junior midfield Alex Doerflein leading the way, the Bearcats controlled 16 of 23 faceoffs. Doerflein captured 14 of his 21 faceoffs while freshmen midfields Joey Dalfo and Mitchell Labianca each won one.
Doerflein’s 13 groundballs were also a game-high, as the junior helped Binghamton to a 35-24 advantage.
Binghamton and Penn State are set to faceoff today at the Bearcats Sports Complex in the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The Nittany Lions (3-3), who are ranked 17th in the USILA Coaches Poll, beat No. 19 UMass 7-5 this weekend and also downed Denver, which currently ranks fifth.
Binghamton has not beaten a ranked opponent since Feb. 20, 2010, when it upset No. 20 Colgate 7-6 at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Penn State will be the second ranked opponent the Bearcats will have faced this season, as then-No. 5 Cornell took the Feb. 26 match 11-6.
Faceoff against the Nittany Lions is set for 4 p.m.