Pavoni Nets Seven in AMCATS Victory Over Falcons

Paxton, Mass. – The Anna Maria College men's lacrosse team soared to a 17-5 victory over Albertus Magnus College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Tuesday evening at AMCAT field. The win is the first conference victory for the AMCATS this season bringing them to a 3-10 overall record and a 1-4 record in the GNAC. The Falcons fall to 3-9 on the season and 0-5 in the conference.

AMCAT LEADERS

Freshmen Brandon Pavoni (Granby, Mass.) and Kurt Richardson (Narragnsett, Mass.) were a dynamic duo in the win for Anna Maria. Pavoni posted a single-game season high nine points from seven goals and two assists while Richardson notched five points from three goals and two assists. Six other AMCATS contributed to the AMCAT scoring including a  two goal effort from freshman Kyle Benning (Puyallup, Wash.).

Richardson also collected a team high six ground balls on the night while Jacob Smith (Belchertown, Mass.) and Tre Demers (Granby, Mass.) chipped in with five ground balls each. Malik Griffith (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded two caused turnovers and Demers went 15-of-22 as he dominated on face-offs.

Sophomore goaltender, Paul Schwarz (Staten Island, N.Y.) had 13 saves to lift the Anna Maria to victory.

FALCON LEADERS

Justin Bennet led the visitor's offensive effort with three points from two goals and an assist on the night. James May also recorded two goals in the loss. Bennet recorded a team high seven ground balls and went 7-of-13 in face-offs. Austin Kozack had three caused turnovers.

Jack Kerner tallied 16 saves in the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Anna Maria came out firing in the first quarter with back to back goals from Pavoni at the 6:54 and 6:35 mark. The visitors answered with a goal of their own as Kozack received a pass from May and put it behind Schwarz to tighten the AMCAT lead to 2-1. Anna Maria notched three more unanswered goals in the first period including a goal from Richardson, Benning, and a buzzer beater from Paul Mills (Auburn, Mass.) to enter the second period leading 5-1.

Anna Maria outscored the Falcons in the second period just 2-1. The visitors tallied their second goal of the game at the 9:20 mark to tighten the score to 5-2, but the AMCATS rallied two more goals of their own to take a five point lead into the halftime break (7-2).

The third period was an Anna Maria show with back to back goals from Pavoni to extend their lead to 9-2. Richardson notched his second goal of the game and James Wieliczko hopped on the board with a man-up goal with 5:09 to play in the third period (11-2).

The AMCATS outscored the Falcons 6-3 in the final quarter to take the final 17-5 victory.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The AMCATS host Mount Ida on senior day on Saturday, April 22^nd for a GNAC contest starting at 1:00 p.m. The Falcons host Emmanuel College on Friday, April 21^st for a 5:00 p.m. conference matchup.