AMCATS Advance to GNAC Semifinals

Paxton, Mass. – Anna Maria freshman Joshua Smith scored 4 goals and dished out 4 assists to lead the AMCATS to a 16-9 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Quarterfinal win  over visiting Becker College in men's lacrosse action. With the win Anna Maria improves to 10-7 and advances to the GNAC Semifinals vs. Mt. Ida College on Friday. Becker ends their season at 4-12.

Joining Smith on the stats sheet was senior Blake Simpson (Warwick, RI) with four goals and junior David Marsh who contributed a pair of goals and an assist.

Pacing the Hawks on the night was attackman Jeff Peterson (Syracuse, NY) with 6 points (5 goals, 1 assist) and sophomore John DeAngelis with 2 goals and 2 assists.

After spotting Becker a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jeff Peterson, sophomore defender Nathan Batallas (Baldwinville, Mass.) went coast-to-coast to tie the game at 1 at the 12:16 mark of the 1^st period. Reining GNAC Rookie of the Week, Joshua Smith gave AMC a 2-1 advantage with a beautiful spin move from 7 yard out past goaltender Michael Munoz (Avon, Conn.). Becker tied the game at 2 apiece when James Conley (Barnstable, Mass.) converted a pass from Jeff Peterson.

Anna Maria outscored the Hawks 4-1 in the second period. Senior captain Brad Peterson (North Kingstown, RI) scored a man-up goal and Joshua Smith found the back of the twine 27 seconds apart. Senior Mike Saulnier (Wrentham, Mass.) gave AMC a 5-2 lead when he created his own scoring play coming out from behind the net to score.

Becker battled back, junior midfielder Joe Ignagni (Kingston, Mass.)  found Jeff Peterson in front of the net to cut the lead to 5-3 but Anna Maria's David Marsh (Boston, Mass) intercepted a Hawk's clearing pass and fired a goal into an empty net to reacquire a thee goal at advantage, 6-3 heading into halftime.

Becker's Peterson cut the lead to 6-4, capitalizing on an AMCAT penalty, scoring an unassisted goal just 31 seconds into the second half. Anna Maria responded with a 5-0 run, a pair of man-up goal by Jason Baker (Billerica, Mass.) and Blake Simpson (Warwick, RI).  Connor Fabrycki (Sturbridge, Mass.)  tallied at 10:36 and Joshua Smith added a pair of goals. Becker squeaked one by goalkeeper Andrew Ellis (Fitchburg, Mass.) when Alex Hurd (Chelmsford, Mass.) scored as time expired in the third period to make it an 11-5.

Anna Maria outscored Becker 5-4 in the fourth. Simpson picked up a hat trick in the period while Patrick Lewis (Templeton, Mass.) and Marsh added singles.

Becker's duo of Peterson and DeAngelis each added a pair in the final quarter.

Anna Maria's  keeper Andrew Ellis made three saves on the night to pick up the win.