Newport News, Va. – Sophomore attackman Chris Becraft (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) tallied five points in leading the St. Mary's College of Maryland men's lacrosse team to an 18-7 victory over Christopher Newport University in the Seahawks' 2009 season finale Saturday afternoon.

Becraft paced the dominating St. Mary's offense with a hat trick and two helpers, while sophomore attackman Dennis Rosson (Severna Park, Md./Severn) contributed three points on a goal and two assists. Junior midfielders Ryan Alexander (Laurel, Md./Pallotti) and Taylor Burgdorf (South Portland, Maine/South Portland) and freshman attackman JP Lennon (Huntington, N.Y./St. Anthony's) each added two goals.

First-year head coach Chris Hasbrouck (Suffern, N.Y.) ends his first year at the helm of the Seahawk men's lacrosse program with an 8-7 overall record, including going 5-2 in conference action to finish second in the league standings ahead of nationally-ranked Salisbury University.

The Seahawks owned a 3-1 advantage after the first period as Burgdorf, Rosson, and sophomore attackman Chris Lacy (Baltimore, Md./St. Paul's) all found the back of the net.

Becraft scored twice in the second quarter as St. Mary's outscored the Captains, 6-2, to take a 9-3 advantage into halftime.

The Captains (8-7) were shutout in the third stanza by the Seahawk defense as seven different players notched a goal for the visitors to claim a 16-3 lead heading into the final period of play.

After St. Mary's opened up the fourth quarter with two goals by sophomore middie Cole Columbus (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne's Belfield) and Lennon, CNU's midfielders Rob Koster (Vienna, Va./Oakton) and Justin King (Crofton, Md./Spalding) each scored twice to make the final, 18-7.

The Seahawks controlled the face-offs, winning 23 of 29 as senior Marc DiPasquale (Fallston, Md./Boys' Latin) was 18 of 22 with a game-high eight ground balls. DiPasquale also chipped in a goal and an assist.

St. Mary's fired off 47 shots to the Captains' 35, while the Seahawks won the ground ball battle, 45-32, as DiPasquale, senior long-stick middie Ryder Henry (Washington, D.C./St. John's College [D.C.]), and sophomore midfielder Bobby Cooke (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) combined for 18 loose ball pick-ups.

SMCM sophomores Pat Simpson (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) and JJ Strombosky (Westford, Mass./Rivers) combined for 18 saves as Simpson made 14 stops and gave up three goals in 45 minutes.

Koster and King led the Captains with two goals apiece, while junior middie Ray Fitzgerald (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) dished out two assists. Freshman Jackson Tyler (Culpeper, Va./Culpeper) and sophomore Matt Miller (Oak Hill, Va./Chantilly) combined for 10 saves in the loss.

2009-04-25