AMCATS Roll Over Mitchell in Season Opener

PAXTON, Mass – Wednesday afternoon, the Anna Maria men's lacrosse team opened their season with a home contest against NECC opponent, Mitchell College. It was a perfect day for lacrosse and the 'Cats made it that much better, beating their guest 18-8.

For the AMCATS, sophomore attacker Brandon Pavoni (Granby, Mass) led all scorers with six goals in the game. Pavoni also added three assists in the performance. Sophomore attacker Brady Seymour (Chicopee, Mass) and freshman attacker Jake Klemba (South Windsor, Conn) each added four goals, and an assist each, to the tally for the AMCATS. Rounding out the scoring for Anna Maria were freshman attacker Cameron Perry (Coventry, R.I.) and freshman attacker Colton Layman (Williston, Vt) who each scored two goals in the game. Perry added three assists to his score line while layman added two.

The Mariners were led in scoring by junior midfielder Kyle Marsh (Oakdale, Conn) who scored three goals on the afternoon. Freshman attacker Jade Shields (Hempstead, N.Y.) and freshman midfielder Jesse McKeever (Selden N.Y.) each scored two goals for Mitchell. Freshman middy Jack Dalton (Middletown, Del) added a goal to round out the scoring for the visitors.

The first period went the AMCATS as they scored five goals in the period. Perry opened the scoring just two minutes in. A minute later, with a Mariner in the penalty box, the AMCATS scored another, by way of Klemba, a man up. AMC would score the first four goals unanswered before Mitchell midfielder, Kyle Marsh netter his first to pull back within three. With 10 second left in the period, Pavoni would net a goal to give his team the 5-1 lead after 15 minutes.

In the second, it was more of the same from the AMCATS, as they once again outscored their opponent 5-1. Mitchell did open the scoring in the second with another goal from Marsh to make the score 5-2. At that point the AMCATS would score five unanswered to take a 10-2 half-time lead.

The third period began the way the second finished. Anna Maria scored two goals in the first four minutes of the quarter. Klemba scored one at the 11:28 mark a man up. Shields scored his goal for Mitchell with 7:09 remaining in the period. Though AMC would get to 14 goal, the Mariners started to surge back scoring four of their own in the period to cut the score to 14-6 going in to the fourth.

Though the visitors looked to get something started in the third they were unable to continue it in to the final period. Anna Maria would tally two more goals in the first two minutes. Though they would concede two more goals to their hosts and held a 16-8 lead with three and a half left to play, the AMCATS would net two more as Seymour scored with 1:30 on the clock and then Layman would put the finishing touches on the win with a goal in the final two seconds of play and Anna Maria walked of the field with an 18-8 win in their season opener.

In the game, the AMCATS won 21 of 29 face-offs. They also were able to capitalize on two of seven Extra man opportunities in the game. Junior goalie Paul Schwarz (Staten Island, N.Y.) posted a 75% save percentage, saving six of eight shots on net before he was substituted for to begin the second half.

Next up for the AMCATS will be a home game against Bard on Saturday at 12pm.