Final Statistics

Yonkers, N.Y. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Men's Lacrosse team was dealt its first loss of the season on Thursday night, dropping a 10-9 heartbreaker to Centenary at Tibbetts Brook Park.

Cavan Valance netted three goals for the Dolphins against Centenary.

Junior captain Cavan Valance (Glen Cove, N.Y.) netted three goals on the night, while rookie Ahmed Ajao led the Mount with a team-high four points.

 

In a first half in which goals were tough to come by, the Dolphins opened a 2-0 lead after a Dan Cohen (Ardsley, N.Y.) tally with 3:18 to play in the opening period. The Cyclones would cut their deficit in half on a Conor Nolan goal at the 3:05 mark, before the two teams split four goals in the second quarter and the Mount carried a 4-3 into the intermission.

 

After stifling Centenary in the first half, the Cyclones exploded for six goals in the third quarter sandwiching three tallies around a Valance marker at the 4:12 mark of the period. Jason Rieg, Robert Nuzzolese and Joe Swantkoski each found the back of the cage twice in the period.

 

Trailing 9-5 heading into the fourth quarter the Mount turned the tables in the final stanza and outscored the visitors 4-1. After Swantkoski scored to give Centenary a three goal cushion, Ajao netted two goals in the final 5:00 to bring the Mount to within one. After his second goal with 2:11 to play the Dolphins would not be able to sustain any more pressure and Centenary escaped with the one goal victory.

 

After seven combined goals in the first 30:00 of the game, the two teams posted a combined 12 markers in the second half with the Cyclones outscoring the Dolphins 7-5.

 

Ajao was one of five Dolphins with at least two points, as Cavan Valance, Rowan Frederick (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Cohen each added three. Derek Valance (Glen Cove, N.Y.) chipped in with a pair of points on a goal and an assist.

 

Ken Valentine (Centereach, N.Y.) picked up a team-high seven groundballs in the game and junior midfielder Chris Guastamacchis won 14 face-offs for the Mount. Senior captain Mike Nuzzi (Westbury, N.Y.) finished a solid night in the cage with 19 saves.

 

Nolan led the way for the Cyclones on the night with six points, including four assists. Rieg and Swantkoski each posted a hat trick and Nuzzolese totaled three points with a pair of markers and an assist. Kyle McVay made 11 saves in the cage to earn the win.

 

Overall in the game Centenary had the clear advantage in shots at 51-34, but the Mount picked up 50 groundballs to 34 for the visitors. The Dolphins won 14 of the 22 draws in the tilt and went 3-for-4 with the extra man.

 

The loss snaps a two game winning streak to open the season for Mount Saint Vincent and drops it to 2-1 overall on the season. The Dolphins will play their first road game of 2010 on Saturday when they travel to Alvernia. Face-off with the Crusaders is set for 3:00 p.m.