APRIL 15, 2009
KING'S MEN'S LAXERS DROP 12-4 DECISION TO EASTERN
ST. DAVID -- Host Eastern University built a 7-0 half-time lead en route to posting a 12-4 victory over King's College in a Middle Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse matchup Wednesday in St. David.
With the win, Eastern improved to 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the MAC while the Monarchs fell to 2-10 and 1-6 in conference play.
Nick Mandia scored three of his four goals in the first half while adding an assist as the Eagles took a 7-0 lead into the break. The Monarchs would reach the scoreboard just 0:53 into the third quarter to cut the lead to 7-1, but Eastern countered with back-to-back goals from Matt Wagner and Mandia's fourth goal to build a 9-1 advantage with 11:18 left in the third quarter.
After Matt Sweazey scored for King's to narrow the margin to 9-2, Mike Ryan answered with a goal for Eastern at 4:34 to give the Eagles a 10-2 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Sweazey and Jason Merola added goals for King's during the final stanza, but the Eagles matched the Monarchs with two goals of their own.
Sweazey led King's with two goals while Reinard finished with one goal and one assist. Tim Cassi made 17 saves in goal for the Monarchs. Mandia led Eastern with four goals and two assists while Ryan added three goals and an assist. Eastern goalies Zach Rivest and Dillon Brooks combined for nine saves.
Eastern outshot King's 47-27 and held a 40-28 advantage in ground balls.
King's returns home Saturday at 2:00 p.m. to face FDU-Florham at McCarthy Stadium in the Betzler Athletic Complex. The game time was originally listed as 5:00 p.m. but was changed earlier in the week.