By Thomas Scavetta
Sports Editor
A rough second half for the seventh-ranked men’s lacrosse team (0-2) proved to be the deciding factor as ninth-ranked Adelphi University (2-1) came out on top in a 15-9 decision on Saturday, Feb. 27, in a non-conference tilt at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville, N.Y. Falling behind 3-0 early in the opening quarter, Pioneer graduate midfielder Jeremy Morgan and senior midfielder Anthony Berardis teamed up for back-to-back goals to cut the visitors lead to just one.
However, senior attackman Cory Stavis and junior midfielder Christopher Racalbuto, scored the lone two goals of the second quarter, giving the Panthers a 6-3 edge at the intermission.
The Pioneers flipped open the book of the second half when senior attacker Matt Bellando punched in an unassisted marker at the 10:28 mark, bringing the hosts within two. It wouldn’t be long before the Panthers began to pull away though. Four of the final five goals scored in the third period belonged to the Panthers, who took a commanding 10-5 lead into the fourth quarter.
After the visitors earned a 12-6 cushion, the Pioneers stringed together three unanswered goals to pull within three (12-9). Morgan, Slane and senior attackman Matty Beccaris found the back of the cage during that stretch. However, Adelphi was able to hold on and netted in the final three markers of the contest.
Slane led all scorers for the Green and Gold collecting four points while Morgan and Bellando each registered two goals and an assist. Beccaris pitched in with two scores and Berardis also recorded a three-point effort as well. In the cage, junior goalie Matthew Liantonio totaled 11 stops for the Pioneers. As for Adelphi, senior net-minder John McGrath denied 14 shots.
Head Coach John Jez and his Pioneer squad will continue to search for their first victory of the 2016 campaign when they square off against the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas College on Wednesday, March 2. The opening draw from Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium is slated for 3 p.m.
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