YORK, PA-The York College men's lacrosse team used a record-breaking performance to open the 2004 season with an impressive 25-1 victory over Alvernia College on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans are now 1-0 while Alvernia falls to 0-1.
The Spartans began the contest with a school-record 10-goal first period. The Spartan onslaught began when freshman Andrew Collins (Olney, MD/Magruder) scored off an Adam Cross (Westminster, MD/Westminster) assist at the 11:59 mark. The Spartans proceeded to score seven more goals in the next 5:43 to put the game away early. Freshman Ben Bereznay (Red Lion, PA/Mt. Hebron, MD) scored a pair of goals in the run as the Spartans added goals nine and ten in the last 3:35 in the half.
Cross and Josh Papsan (Baltimore, MD/North Carroll) scored the Spartan goals in the second quarter while Alvernia's Chris Kanauss spoiled the Spartan shutout with the Crusaders' only goal with 5:20 left before the half.
The Spartan offense kept rolling after the half as six different Spartans scored in the third period. The green and white closed out the game with a seven-goal fourth period highlighted by a pair of goals from Berezny and Ben Libertini (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville).
The green and white received five goals from Bereznay as the freshman made an impressive debut. Cross added four goals and four assists while he also had nine ground balls. Papsan played a solid game with three goals, three assists, 12 ground balls and 12 wins in 15 face off attempts. Collins notched four goals, one assist, and eight ground balls while Libertini chipped in with three goals and three assists. Senior Kurt Miller (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) contributed two goals, two assists, and seven ground balls and Keegan Mathe (Arlington Heights, IL/Mt. Hebron, MD) added two goals. Sophomores Dan DeBonis (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) and Scott Kimball (Phoenix, MD/Dulaney) each scored one goal for the Spartan offense.
The Spartan had three goalies share time in the win. Freshman Matt Hanson (Marriottsville, MD/River Hill) started and played the first three quarters. He allowed one goal on two shots while he did not record a save. Sophomore Dave Welti (Stroudsburg, PA/Hicksville) was in net in the fourth and recorded the Spartans' lone save of the day.
The Spartans finished the day outshooting Alvernia 52-6 while they also held an 87-33 edge in ground balls. The green and white also won 23 of the 30 face offs for the contest.
Alvernia goalie Hugh Algeo made 16 saves on the 52 Spartan shots as he played all 60 minutes for Alvernia.
York set school records for points in a game (40), goals (25), assists (15), ground balls (87), and tied the mark for face offs won (23).
The Spartans return to action on Friday, March 5 when they travel to Randolph-Macon College for a non-conference contest. The game is slated to begin at 3:30 pm in Ashland, VA.