Hamilton men's lacrosse hands Drew first loss

Jon Leanos '12 scored three goals and Max Vaickus '12 made a season-high 15 saves to lead Hamilton College to a 10-9 win against Drew University in a non-conference game at Drew's Ranger Stadium on March 21.

Hamilton (1-3 overall) picked up its first win of 2012, and handed Drew (5-1) its first loss in the process. The Continentals return home to face nationally ranked No. 15 Bowdoin College in NESCAC play on Saturday, March 24.

Leanos leads Hamilton with 10 goals and 16 points. Paul Armideo '14 and Baylis Treen '15 chipped in one goal and one assist apiece. Bryan Hopper '14, Henry Burchenal '12, Luke Sadoff '12, Luke Sisler '14 and Michael Clarke '13 added one goal each. Burchenal and Mike Fiacco '13 scooped up six ground balls apiece.

Patrick Lamon paced the Rangers' offense with three goals. Scott Humphreys posted two goals and two assists, and Sean McGowan had two goals and one helper. Nicholas Della Fera recorded one goal and one assist and Steve Gentile scored the other goal. Charlie DeSocio stopped 13 shots. McGowan won 18 of 22 faceoffs and picked up eight ground balls. Gentile led all players with nine ground balls.

The Continentals trailed 4-3 midway through the second quarter, but took the lead for good with three straight goals. Treen tied the score with 6:49 left in the second, and Sadoff's fifth tally made it 5-4 with 3:58 remaining. Treen fed Armideo for a 6-4 advantage 23 seconds later. Hamilton led 6-5 at the half.

The Continentals still led by one at 8-7 after three quarters. Armideo found Clarke for his first goal at Hamilton and a 9-7 cushion with 11:54 left in the fourth. Lamon pulled Drew within one again 22 seconds later. Sisler made it 10-8 with his second goal of 2012 with 6:52 remaining.

The Rangers received one final chance with 2:19 left when the Continentals were whistled for a 60-second slashing penalty. McGowan made Hamilton pay with a goal 33 seconds into the man-up situation. Drew won the ensuing faceoff and took one shot that sailed wide. The Continentals gained possession and the Rangers didn't get another shot at the tying goal. Vaickus made seven saves in the fourth quarter.

Hamilton held a 44-39 shot advantage and committed just 14 turnovers. Drew picked up 45 ground balls to the Continentals' 34, but was 12 of 18 on successful clears and turned the ball over 23 times.