Wingate, N.C. -- Merrimack (Mass.) College senior attack Greg Rogowski (Cohoes, N.Y.) scored a game-high six goals as the number four Warriors defeated host Wingate University 15-9 in NCAA Division II men's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field on the Wingate campus.

Merrimack is 3-0 overall on the season, while Wingate falls to 3-6 overall. The Bulldogs visit Queens University of Charlotte Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. contest. The Warriors' Rogowski's six goals give him a team-best 13 scores on the season. Rogowski scored the first goal of the game at the 12:31 mark of the first quarter. The Warriors led 2-0 after the opening stanza.

After an early second quarter extra-man goal by Merrimack gave the visitors a 3-0 lead, Wingate got on the board. Bulldog senior attack Greg Williams (Woodbridge, Va.) tallied back-to-back goals to cut the Wingate deficit to 3-2 with 11:33 remaining in the second quarter. The Warriors outscored the Bulldogs 3-1 the rest of the period to take a 6-3 lead at halftime.

Rogowski did most of his damage after intermission, as he tallied four goals in the second half. Wingate sophomore attack Billy Mutton (Mechanicsville, Va.) opened the third quarter scoring at the 14:42 plateau to trim the margin to 6-4 Merrimack. Williams assisted Mutton on the play.

The Warriors answered, putting together a 4-0 run to take a 10-4 lead. Merrimack freshman attack/midfield Gregory Fallon (North Kingstown, R.I.) concluded the flurry, finding the back of the nets (on an assist from Rogowski) with 8:19 to go in the third.

Bulldog redshirt junior attack Angus Derbyshire (Thurmont, Md.) responded for Wingate, finding the back of the nets on an assist from redshirt senior midfielder Mark Hodsdon (Hilton Head, S.C.) to pull the hosts within five at 10-5. The Bulldogs would get no closer the rest of the way.

Rogowski had seven points (six goals, one assist) to lead all scorers. Fallon posted two goals and two assists, while senior midfielder Jo Pisano (Dedham, Mass.) contributed three goals for the visitors.

Three Wingate players had four points each. Williams had three goals and one assist, while Derbyshire recorded two goals and two assists. Hodsdon supplied one goal and a team-best three assists for the Bulldogs.

Merrimack junior goalie Cory Spinale (Wakefield, Mass.) earned his third victory of the season for the Warriors. In 60 minutes of action, Spinale allowed nine goals. He recorded 10 saves and three ground balls.

Wingate freshman goalie Danny Dlugozima (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) took the loss, as he worked 40-plus minutes in the Bulldog nets. He gave up 12 goals and notched six saves. Bulldog senior goalkeeper Chad Watson (Wilmington, N.C.) labored 19-plus minutes. Watson allowed three goals and stopped four Warrior shots.

Warrior freshman midfielder Nick Maggio (Winchester, Mass.) won 16 of his 25 face-offs for the victors. He also scooped up a game-high nine ground balls. Wingate's extra-man offense had a good day, converting four-of-six power play chances. Merrimack took advantage of only one-of-three extra-man opportunities.

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WINGATE, NC - The Merrimack men's lacrosse team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 15-9 victory over Wingate Saturday afternoon. For the second straight game, senior All-American Greg Rogowski scored six times, leading the Warriors to the win.

The Warriors scored the game's first three goals and grabbed a 6-3 lead at halftime behind two goals each from Jo Pisano and Rogowski.

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2009-03-21