North Andover, Mass. - The fifth-ranked Adelphi University men's lacrosse team's fourth-quarter rally fell short this afternoon in against fourth-ranked Merrimack, as the Panthers slipped to their first Northeast-10 Conference defeat of the season, 18-14. The Panthers scored eight goals in the final stanza, but it was not enough to overcome an 11-4 halftime deficit.
The loss snaps Adelphi's seven-game win streak and drops the Panthers to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the NE-10, while the host Warriors improve to 7-1 and boast an identical conference mark to the Brown and Gold at 5-1.
Salvatore Tuttle led the offensive effort with a game-high 10 points on six goals and four assists, while three other players chipped in two points.
Gordon Purdie, Jr. contributed a goal and an assist, while
Anthony Gomes and
Chris Racalbuto scored twice each. Gomes and
Luke Spitzer anchored the defense, causing three turnovers each, whlie
Joe Giardina added two.
John English led the team with seven ground balls and won 13 of 27 face-off attempts, Giardina grabbed four ground balls.
John McGrath and
Brendan McDougal split time between the pipes for Adelphi, with McGrath making eight stops and McDougal making three.
The host Warriors blitzed the visitors in the first half, scoring 11 of the first 13 goals, including the first three of the game. Merrimack's 11th goal of the first half came with 3:50 left and put the Warriors on top, 11-2. Adelphi righted the ship in the closing minutes of the half, scoring back-to-back goals in the final 52 seconds off the sticks of Tuttle and Spitzer, to bring it to 11-4.
The hosts came out of the locker room hot again, this time scoring four of the first five goals to push their lead to 10 goals, 15-5, with 2:12 left in the third quarter. However, the Panthers kept pushing and
Gerard Cunningham scored with just six seconds left in the third quarter to spark the Brown and Gold offense going into the final period. Adelphi would score nine of the next 12 goals to get within four, 18-14, with 1:37 left in the contest, but ran out of time and could get no closer.
Adelphi returns to the field on Wednesday, April 6 when they welcome Saint Anselm to Motamed Field for a 4:00 pm contest.
Notes:- Adelphi is now 5-10 all-time against Merrimack, including a mark of 1-3 over the past two seasons.
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Salvatore Tuttle's total of 10 points is the second time this season he has topped the 10 point plateau.
- Tuttle is now six goals shy of the all-time program mark for career goals, which is held by Jeff Reh (1987-90), 175, he is also second among all players in career points at 275, behind Bob Engelke's 364 (1976-79).
About Adelphi Athletics:
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the Fall of 2009 and in the past six seasons has collected 16 regular season conference titles, 21 tournament championships, 27 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 President's Cup twice (2013 and 2014), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.
