BROOKLINE, MA – A go-ahead score from freshman star
Mike Aiello in the 57th minute propelled the Skidmore College men's lacrosse team to a thrilling 9-8 upset victory over No. 16 St. Lawrence in a neutral-site matchup at the Dexter Southfield School on Saturday afternoon.
Kicking off Liberty League play, the Thoroughbreds (4-3, 1-0 Liberty League) jumped out to a fast 6-2 first half lead as star senior
Brian Gonsalves led the way offensively with three goals and one assist. Defensively, freshman
Michael Dearborn set a single-game program record with eight caused turnovers as Skidmore forced a staggering 26 combined turnovers from the Saints (3-4, 0-1 Liberty League).
The ranked conference victory also marks the program's first under head coach
Joe Martin.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In a low-scoring first quarter, Skidmore notched the only two goals in the frame off the sticks of Gonsalves and junior David Koffler as the Thoroughbreds defense forced seven Saints turnovers for the shutout quarter.
- After St. Lawrence quickly tied the game up in the opening minutes of the second period, the Thoroughbreds dominated the rest of the way with four-consecutive scores contributed by Gonsalves, senior Ryan Connolly and twice from sophomore Jon Byrne to take a 6-2 advantage into halftime.
- At intermission, the Skidmore defense forced 15 St. Lawrence turnovers to help gain a 11-to-8 shots advantage on the offensive end.
- The Saints began a furious comeback bid in the second half that began by first outscoring the Thoroughbreds in the third period with three goals while holding the Skidmore offense to a lone score from Gonsalves to pull within 7-5 entering the fourth quarter.
- The final period of play began with St. Lawrence cutting the lead down to a lone score, 7-6, at the 12:49 mark, before senior Jon Bouvier responded with a solo score to push the lead back up to two-scores with 9:28 on the clock.
- However, the Saints momentum could not be halted as St. Lawrence would tie the game up at 8-8 with a pair of goals at the 7:43 and 5:33 marks of the fourth.
- Needing a big play on offense, Aiello delivered for Skidmore off a stellar pass from Bouvier for the go-ahead goal with 3:59 on the clock.
- The Thoroughbreds defense would close out the match by forcing three Saints turnovers in the closing minutes, including a record-setting eighth caused turnover by Dearborn, to hold on for the upset victory.
STANDOUT THOROUGHBREDS
- Gonsalves led the offense with three goals and an assist.
- Byrne recorded two goals to go with a groundball.
- Koffler and Bouvier each finished with a goal and assist apiece, with Koffler also finishing with three groundballs.
- With his eight caused turnovers, Dearborn broke the previous single-game record of seven set by Scott Grillo in the 2010 season. The freshman also led the team with five groundballs.
UP NEXT
Skidmore is back in action next Saturday for the conference home opener against Clarkson. The start time is set for 3 PM.
