WORCESTER, Mass. - Army senior midfielder Kevin LoRusso tallied two goals and an assist, while senior attackman added a goal and two assists to lead No. 20 Army to an 8-5 victory over Holy Cross, Saturday afternoon in Patriot League lacrosse action.

Leading 1-0 after the first quarter, Army broke the game open with four unanswered goals in the second quarter en route to its first conference win of the season. Sophomore Tom Palesky turned in an 18-save performance to preserve the victory for the Black Knights (5-3, 1-1 Patriot League).

Army scored the lone goal of the first period as freshman midfielder Rob McCallion took a pass from junior midfielder Andrew Maisano and scored at the 13:14 mark

The Black Knights started their second quarter run with 12:42 on the clock as senior attackman Brooks Korvin checked the ball loose from Holy Cross senior goalkeeper Jimmy Harrison and freshman LSM Tim Henderson picked it up and tossed home his first career goal make it a 2-0 Army lead. Sophomore attackman Jeremy Boltus fed Peyer for a goal at 10:18 before Peyer hit junior midfielder Tyler Oates for a tally at 9:11 to make it a three-goal edge. Peyer scored a man-up goal off a feed from LoRusso at 4:15 as Army built the five-goal lead.

Holy Cross got on the board with 3:37 to play in the quarter as junior attackman Chris Smirti caused a turnover and hit freshman attackman Colin McGeehin with a scoring feed at 3:37 to make it a 5-1 game at halftime.

Maisano started the second half with goal off a Boltus assist with 10:28 on the clock following a Holy Cross turnover, but Holy Cross would later answer as McGeehin came up with a loose ball and fed junior midfieler Kenny Minor at 3:18 to cut the Army lead to four, 6-2.

With 1:08 remaining in the quarter, Korvin rang a shot off the crossbar, but LoRusso was there to sweep home the rebound to give Army a 7-2 lead after three quarters of play.

Holy Cross junior attackman Chris Smirti opened the fourth-quarter with an unassisted goal at 14:17, but Army bounced right back as LoRusso scored on a 10-yard shot to make it an 8-3 Black Knight lead at 11:10.

Crusader freshman defenseman David Henry picked up a loose ball and ran the length of the field before feeding senior midfielder Paddy Dowling for a goal at 7:03 to make it an 8-4 game. Minor scored an unassisted goal at 5:11 to pull Holy Cross within three, but Army was able to shut the Crusaders down the rest of the way to seal the victory.

2009-03-21