AMCATS Win Season Opener, Advance to Worcester Cup Finals

PAXTON, Mass. (02.28.12) – The Anna Maria College men's lacrosse team received a hat trick from Chris Summers (Long Valley, NJ) and goaltender Andrew Ellis (Fitchburg, Mass.) made eight saves as the AMCATS defeated Becker College 9-4 in season opening action for both teams tonight at AMCAT Field. With the win, the AMCATS earned head coach Mark Lange his first collegiate victory.

AMC will advance to the Worcester City Cup Championship on Saturday afternoon at 3:00pm. The AMCATS will face the Clark vs. Assumption winner in the title match.

Junior Chris Summers paved the way for the AMCATS, leading all players with three goals and five points on the night. Seniors Mike Saulnier (Wrentham, Mass.) and Blake Simpson (Warwick, RI) and freshman Joshua Smith (Mendon, Mass.) each tallied two goals. Junior Jason Baker (Billerica, Mass.) scooped up game-high 7 ground balls while adding an assist.

 Becker (0-1) was paced by Jeff Petersen's (Syracuse, NY) two goals, while Matt Matson (Worcester, Mass.) and Alex Huard (Chelmsford, Mass.) each found the back of the net.

Anna Maria (1-0) scored their first goal of the season at the 8:25 mark of the first period with an unassisted tally from Summers. At the end of the first quarter AMC held a 2-0 lead after a Joshua Smith goal with under a minute left in the first stanza.

Anna Maria built a 5-0 lead at halftime with a pair of Summers' goals sandwiched around Mike Saulnier's first score of the season.

Becker fought back scoring two man-up goals quickly in the third quarter. Alex Hurd scored unassisted while Jeff Peterson converted a John DeAngelis' pass to make it a 5-2 game.

However, the AMCATS reeled off four unanswered goals to pull away from the Hawks.

Both Anna Maria and Becker return to action on Saturday afternoon, Becker will play at Noon in the Worcester City Cup Consolation game, the Championship game will immediately follow.

Photo Credit Lynette Colome