CHESTERTOWN, MD -- Senior midfielder Matt Moreton (Darnestown, MD/Northwest) scored three goals and assisted on three others to lead the sixth-ranked Washington College men's lacrosse team to an 11-6 win over visiting Kean University in the season opener for both teams this afternoon on Kibler Field at Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium.

The Shoremen jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the game, scoring all five first-quarter goals and the first goal of the second quarter. Senior midfielder Moreton netted his second goal of the game 45 seconds into the second quarter to give the Shoremen their half-dozen lead. The Cougars scored three of the next four goals to trim the lead to 7-3 at halftime following Anthony Bertucci's second unassisted goal of the quarter.

Kean scored the first two goals of the third quarter as a Scott Leathem tally with 8:04 left in the period got the Cougars to within two at 7-5. The Shoremen ended Kean's rally when Moreton fired in a goal with 3:34 to play in the third. The score remained 8-5 until under six minutes remained in the game. Senior attackman Jimmy Kielek (Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Curley) then scored back-to-back goals off assists from senior midfielder Kyle van Oostendorp (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) and Moreton with 5:41 and 2:12 left in the game, respectively, to give Washington a 10-5 advantage.

Sophomore midfielder Doug Herdegen (Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Curley) rounded out the Shoremen's scoring with a goal off a feed from senior midfielder Casey O'Connor (Crownsville, MD/Archbishop Spalding) with 1:26 to play to complete a four-goal run for Washington. Leathem scored off an assist from C.J. Gannon with 40 seconds left to provide the final margin.

Junior attackman Brendan O'Leary (Annapolis, MD/Broadneck) and Kielek joined Moreton as multiple-goal scorers for the Shoremen; O'Leary also tallied two assists. O'Connor and sophomore attackman Josh Perlow (Owings Mills, MD/Boys Latin) each added one goal and one assist. Herdegen and freshman attackman/midfielder Tom Rixey (Virginia Beach, VA/Norfolk Academy) each scored one goal, while van Oostendorp notched one assist.

Leathem led the Cougars with three goals, while Bertucci netted two goals and one assist. Nick Angrisani scored one goal, while Eric Gillar and Gannon each had one assist.

Senior goalie Gordon Cohen (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) made 14 saves for the Shoremen, including seven in the third quarter. Junior defenseman Bobby Baur (Bel Air, MD/Bel Air) recorded a game-high three caused turnovers for Washington. John Gesumaria made 12 saves in goal for the Cougars. Washington held a 37-24 advantage in shots in the game, including a 13-1 margin in the first quarter. Kean won 12 of the game's 21 face-offs.

The Shoremen return to action Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. game at Virginia Wesleyan.

2009-02-25