SALISBURY, NC -- Belmont Abbey scored the opening five goals and went on to defeat host Catawba 13-7 in men's lacrosse action on Wednesday night at Shuford Stadium. The Crusaders improve to 3-5, while the Catawba Indians fall to 2-5.

Dave DiLuigi (Saugus, MA) scored the first of his five goals just 30 seconds into the game to give the Crusaders a lead they would not relinquish. Michael Brown (Hartford, CT) scored two goals in the early spurt and assisted on the opening goal. DiLuigi capped the opening barrage with 4:24 left in the quarter for the 5-0 edge.

Catawba scored four of the next six goals, two by Braden Artem (Acton, Ont, CANADA/Christ the King HS), to pull within 7-4 at the 9:13 mark of the third quarter. Three goals by the Crusaders upped their lead to 10-4 before goals by Artem and Marty Tuohy (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth HS) cut the deficit to 10-6 with 9:43 remaining. DiLuigi scored at the 9:07 mark as Belmont Abbey tallied three of the final four goals.

DiLuigi finished with six points on five goals and an assist and also won 7-of-8 face-offs. Brown had two goals and added three helpers to total five points. Artem had three goals and assist to pace Catawba with Tuohy adding three goals. The Crusaders held a 44-30 edge in shots and won 17-of-23 face-offs. Brian Watson (Tampa, FL) won 10-of-13 face-offs and had five ground balls.

2009-04-01