UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., March 10, 2004 -The Penn State men's lacrosse team (2-2, 0-0) earned its second victory of the season downing Providence (0-3, 0-0) 11-4 at Johns Hopkins University. Nine different Lions scored goals including sophomore Nate Whitaker (Great Falls, Va.) who has now extended his scoring streak to 18 games.
Penn State led 7-3 heading into the final quarter of play and scored two consecutive goals to open the period. Freshman Gil Pearsall (Carthage, N.Y.) scored an unassisted goal for his second tally of the night and sophomore John Eremus (Rosemont, Pa.) scored the only extra-man goal of the game on an assist from freshman Patrick Heim (Wayne, Pa.). The Friars added their lone goal of the quarter from Mark Dillon at the 5:22 mark. Junior Derek Howells (Niskayuna, N.Y.) then found the back of the net for the last two goals of the game to seal the victory for the Nittany Lions 11-4.
Both teams only managed to score one goal apiece in the third quarter. Sean Kirwan scored six seconds into the quarter on an assist from Brian O'Rorke. Senior Charlie Perry (Port Washington, N.Y.) then notched his third goal of the season at the 4:32 mark of the quarter to give the Lions a 7-3 lead.
The Nittany Lions outscored Providence 2-1 in the second quarter. Juniors Mike Jacober (Providence, R.I.) and Will Cutler (Vienna, Va.) both tallied unassisted goals for their first points of the season. The Friars scored a late goal with 38 second left from Mark Bundra however Penn State maintained the lead at halftime, 6-2.
The Lions made their statement early in the opening quarter as they rallied off four consecutive goals. Whitaker opened the scoring with an unassisted tally four minutes into the quarter. Senior Edmond Perry (Port Washington, N.Y.) and Pearsall then teamed up and notched goals eight second apart to give the Lions a 3-0 lead. Junior Will Jones (Annapolis, Md.) scored the Lions' fourth goal of the quarter at the 3:55 mark to continue as the team's leading goal scorer with five on the year.
Senior goalkeeper Mike Stoltz (Hereford, Md.) made seven saves in the game and limited the Friars to only one goal each quarter.
Penn State will next be in action when they host Georgetown in its first ECAC match on Saturday, Mar. 13 at 1:00 p.m. The Lions will then travel to Colorado on Mar. 21 to take on the Denver Pioneers at 2:00 p.m.
-LIONS-
GOAL - (ASSISTS): PSU 1st quarter-Nate Whitaker, Edmond Perry, Gil Pearsall, Will Jones; 2nd quarter-Mike Jacober, Will Cutler; 3rd quarter-Charlie Perry; 4th quarter-Gil Pearsall, John Eremus - (Patrick Heim), Derek Howells - (Marc Young), Derek Howells. PC 1st quarter-Dan Giuntini; 2nd quarter-Mark Bundra - (Brendan Ryan); 3rd quarter-Sean Kirwan - (Brian O'Rorke); 4th quarter-Mark Dillon - (Carlo Sunseri).
SAVES: PSU, Mike Stoltz (60 minutes, 4 goals allowed, 7 saves) PC: Andrew McMinn (60:00 minutes, 11 goals allowed, 12 saves)
GROUNDBALLS: PSU, 34: PC, 31
EMO: PSU, 1-2: PC, 0-4
