Offensive surge leads AMCATS to convincing win over Wheelock

PAXTON, Mass. (03.18.11) – The Anna Maria College men's lacrosse team received goals from eight different players as they defeated Wheelock College 18-1 at AMCAT Field on Friday evening. The contest marked the program debut for the Wildcats who begin their inaugural season with an 0-1 mark, while the AMCATS captured their second victory in their past three games to improve to 2-4 overall on the year.

Junior Mike Saulnier (Wrentham, Mass.) paved the way for the AMCATS, leading all players with five goals and six points on the night. Freshman Andrew Biscardi (Wantagh, N.Y.) contributed five points of his own, including a game-high four assists, while sophomore Rodrigo Henriques (Saugus, Mass.) stuffed the stat sheet with four points on three goals and one assist, while grabbing a game-high 14 groundballs and winning 13-of-14 faceoff attempts. Sophomore Alex Natterstad (Upton, Mass.) added four points on three goals and an assist in addition to scooping four groundballs, while fellow sophomore Chris Summers (Long Valley, N.J.) collected a hat-trick and six groundballs in the win. Sophomore Zach Zipse (Framingham, Mass.) earned his first victory of the season in net for the AMCATS, allowing just one goal on the night.

Junior Kevin Kareckas (South Berwick, Maine) forever placed himself in the Wheelock record books when he scored the program's first goal mid-way through the third quarter. Junior Ben Lewis (Hopkinton, Mass.) also played well for the Wildcats, grabbing a team-high seven groundballs while also winning two of his four faceoff attempts. Freshman Zach Bushway (Bethlehem, N.H.) contributed five groundballs of his own, while sophomore Paul Collins (Hyde Park, Mass.) led the team with three caused turnovers. Sophomore Michael Manning (Brookfield, Mass.) took the loss in goal despite making several nice stops and totaling 15 saves on the night.

The Wildcats stayed close through the opening 12 minutes of the contest, as the AMCATS built a 2-0 lead on goals from Natterstad and Saulnier.

However, the AMCATS received unassisted tallies from both Henriques and Grant Pilkington (Warwick, R.I.) in the final two minutes of the first period, and then pulled away with seven unanswered goals in the second quarter to go into the break leading 11-0.

The AMCATS scored the opening five goals of the third quarter, capped by consecutive scores from Summers off feeds by Biscardi to up their lead to 16-0.

With just over one minute remaining in the third frame, Kareckas cradled the ball behind the Anna Maria goal looking for an opening. He drove to the right side of the net, wrapped around the goal, and fired a shot passed the AMC goalie, marking the historic first goal for the Wheelock men's lacrosse program.

The AMCATS went on to tack on two goals by sophomore David Marsh (Boston, Mass.) to seal the 18-1 victory.

The Wildcats will return to action on Wednesday when they host UMass-Boston for their home opener starting at 3:30 pm, while the AMCATS take to the field again on Tuesday when they travel to face Emerson at 6:00 pm.

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Information