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WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Three third-quarter man-up goals by the Lycoming College men’s lacrosse team helped it pull away from rival Susquehanna University, as the Warriors came up with a 9-7 victory in the 2012 home opener at the Shangraw Athletic Complex on a blustery, Saturday, Feb. 25.
 
As snow flurries began to fall in the second quarter, Susquehanna (0-1 overall) begane to come back from a 4-0 deficit, scoring two goals in the last 65 seconds of the first half before another early in the third quarter by Pete Doelp brought the Crusaders within a point.
 
However, Lycoming responded with three straight goals, all man-up, in a three-minute span to take a 7-3 lead. The first came on the first career goal from freshman Sean Reilly (Corning, N.Y./Corning Painted Post West) on a give by sophomore Brett Farrell (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder), the second on a pass from Reilly to sophomore Matt McCaffer (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) and the last on an unassisted goal by junior Stephen Romano (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township).
 
After a Susquehanna goal, senior Hank Runser (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) posted a goal on a give from senior Ben Walker (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) to close out the third period with the Warriors holding an 8-4 lead. The Crusaders didn’t give up, scoring three goals in the fourth quarter to close within a goal on after Marcus Cheatham scored with 6:05 left.
 
However, Lycoming forced a big turnover on the Crusaders’ next possession and then turned to their two most experienced attackman and senior Ethan Payne (Farmington, N.Y./Victor) found Romano for a goal with 3:01 left to seal the win for Lycoming.
 
The Warriors started the game on fire, as Payne scored within the first minute before Romano added another goal just four minutes later. Romano added an assist on a goal by Payne a minute into the second quarter and then assisted on a goal by Walker to help Lycoming take a 4-0 lead.
 
Romano led the Warriors with three goals, two assists and five groundballs and Payne posted two goals and an assist. Walker, Runser and Reilly each posted a goal and an assist. Freshman Kyle Hauk (Sacketts Harbor, Immaculate Heart) notched five groundballs and two caused turnovers and senior Tim Clemente (West Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) had a solid day in the circle, winning 13-of-21 faceoffs and adding nine groundballs.
 
The Crusaders were led by two goals and two assists from Luke Delavan and Austin Lein added two goals and an assist. Ryan Brim posted five groundballs and three caused turnovers.
 
Sophomore Andrew Hauk (Sacketts Harbor, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) notched nine saves to earn his first win of the year for the Warriors. Jordan Daney posted 13 saves and six groundballs in net for the Crusaders.
 
Lycoming gets back on the field on Wednesday, Feb. 29, when it heads to Monroe Community College in Henrietta, N.Y., to face SUNY Geneseo at 3:30 p.m.