AMCATS' second half comeback comes up short versus Scots

PAXTON, Mass. (03.31.11) – The Gordon College men's lacrosse team jumped out to a 10-0 lead, before fending off a second half comeback attempt to secure a 13-9 victory over conference-foe Anna Maria College at AMCAT Field on Thursday evening. The win improves the Fighting Scots to 5-4 overall and a perfect 4-0 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference, while the AMCATS fall to 4-7 (1-5 TCCC).

The Scots were paced by senior Dan Utz (Rochester, N.Y.) who led all players with six points and four assists on the evening. Freshman Jeremy Nelson (West Chester, Pa.) scored a game-high four goals for Gordon, while junior Wes Chittick (Glenside, Pa.) added four points on three goals and one assist in the win. Senior Stuart Knechtle (New Canaan, Conn.) also had a strong game, leading all players with 15 ground balls and six caused turnovers, while sophomore Houston Zemanski (Annapolis, Md.) made four saves in net to earn the victory for the Scots.

The AMCATS received three goals apiece by sophomore Chris Summers (Long Valley, N.J.) and freshman Andrew Biscardi (Wantagh, N.Y.), while sophomore Rodrigo Henriques (Saugus, Mass.) collected three points on two goals and one assist, in addition to winning 12-of-20 faceoff attempts and grabbing 11 ground balls on the eveing. Junior Brad Peterson (North Kingstown, R.I.) also played well, dishing-out one assist while scooping 11 ground balls and causing a team-high three turnovers in the loss.

The Scots took control of the game in the early going, starting the contest with 10 unanswered goals. Chittick led the way during the 10-0 run, compiling three goals and one assist, while Utz added one goal and three assists.

Summers helped the AMCATS answer back with two goals in the final minute of the opening half. The first came off a feed from Henriques on a man-up opportunity, while junior Grant Pilkington (Warwick, R.I.) fed him on an even strength tally to cut the Gordon lead down to 10-2 at the break.

The third period was a defensive affair, as neither team was able to put anything on the scoreboard.

The fourth quarter was just the opposite, as the two teams combined for 10 goals in the frame.

With the AMCATS trailing 12-3 and under 10:30 remaining in the contest, the AMCATS erupted to go on a 6-1 run. Biscardi got things going with a pair of unassisted tallies, before Henriques chipped in with a man-up goal and an unassisted goal to bring the AMCATS back within six at 13-7. Summers kept things rolling with an unassisted man-down goal, which was followed by Biscardi's third tally of the period off of a nice feed from Peterson.

However, the run proved to be too-little-too-late, as the AMCATS ran out of time and the Fighting Scots walked away with the 13-9 victory.

The Scots return to action this Saturday when they travel to face Roger Williams at 1:00 pm, while the AMCATS take to the field again on Wednesday when they hit the road to battle New England College at 6:00 pm.

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Informatio