OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The No. 2-ranked Stevenson University men's lacrosse team used a 6-0 run midway through the third quarter, capped by the game-winning goal by senior Greg Furshman (Miami, Fla./Towson) to erase a 9-6 deficit and remain unbeaten in its last 12 with a 12-11 victory over Wesley Saturday afternoon at Caves Athletics Complex. Furshman finished with three points and five ground balls to lead the Mustangs (9-0, 3-0 CAC) to their ninth-straight home win and fifth in the CAC.

After Brad Smith gave the Wolverines (7-3, 4-2 CAC) the largest lead Stevenson has faced all season, three with 7:31 remaining in the third quarter, the Mustangs scored the next six consecutive goals over the next 8:59, including the game-winner by Furshman, to take a 12-9 lead with 12:24 left in the fourth quarter. Stevenson tied the game for the third time on the third goal of the season from sophomore Drew Brady (Newton Square, Pa./Penncrest) with 3:53 to play in the third.

Despite outshooting Wesley 53-23, forcing 32 turnovers and holding a 34-27 edge in ground balls, the Mustangs were held in check by Jim McCleaft who made 21 saves in goal for the Wolverines, 10 of which came in the first quarter where he faced 17 shots.

Junior Geoff Hebert (Lutherville/Dulaney) made six saves for Stevenson who trailed 6-5 at halftime which was the first time the team had trailed at the half all season. However, in the second half, the Mustangs outscored Wesley 7-5, outshot them 26-11 and won 9-of-13 faceoffs while totaling 21 of their 34 ground balls.

During the team's 6-0 run, junior Nic Bevacqua (Boonton Township, N.J./Mt. Lakes) scored twice and Furshman added a goal and an assist. Bevacqua finished the game with three goals and four points. Three of Wesley's 11 goals came with a man-up as the team went 3-for-6 with the extra-man, compared to just 1-for-7 for the Mustangs.

Junior Steve Kazimer (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger) also finished with four points on two goals and two assists while junior Richie Ford (Baltimore/Towson) added two goals and sophomore Jimmy Dailey (Westminster/Winter Mills) had two assists.

Stevenson travels to York (Pa.) on Wednesday for a 3:30 game with the Spartans.

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. - No. 2 Stevenson needed a six goal run in the second half to erase Wesley's 6-5 halftime lead and held on in the fourth quarter for a 12-11 in a Capital Athletic Conference contest.

The Wolverines (7-3, 4-2 CAC) got a stellar effort from Jim McCleaft (Media, Pa./Sun Valley) in the contest as the senior goalkeeper turned away 21 shots in the contest and added two ground balls and two caused turnovers.

The Mustangs (9-0, 3-0 CAC) scored twice in the first 1:35 of the contest, but Joe Trezza (King's Park, N.Y./King's Park) fed Justin Thompson (Pasadena, Md./North East) with 10:39 left in the first quarter to cut the lead in half.

Wesley wasted no time in tying the game at 2-2, converting a holding penalty by Stevenson into Dan Skeels' (Roseland, N.J./West Essex) first goal of the afternoon with 9:22 to go in the period. Chris Baldwin grabbed the lead back for the Mustangs, but Wesley turned the tables on Stevenson later in the period to tie the game once again.

The Wolverines were called for a penalty and playing a man down, but Brad Bivins (Dover, Del./Caesar Rodney) took an assist from Nick Pisacano (King's Park, N.Y./King's Park) with 3:12 left for the final score of the first quarter.

Thompson and Skeels each picked up their second goals of the game two give Wesley a 5-3 lead with 7:51 to go in the half. After the Mustangs cut the lead to 5-4, the two squads traded scores in the final 1:30 of the half. Brad Smith (Glen Burnie, Md./Old Mill) benefitted from a Trezza assist with 1:27 left for a two goal advantage. Richie Ford found the back of the net with just 42 seconds remaining for a 6-5 halftime score.

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2009-03-28