KINGS POINT, N.Y. - The University of Scranton men's lacrosse team's bid to win the Landmark Conference championship fell short against the United States Merchant Marine Academy this afternoon.

Behind back-to-back goals by sophomore Zach Gray (Scituate, Mass./Boston College High School) and junior Brian Flannery (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge), the Mariners scored twice in the final four minutes of play to break a 6-6 tie en route to an 8-6 victory.

Flannery, Gray and freshman Sean Zakow (South Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) finished with two goals apiece and senior attacker Brennan Dougherty (Elliott City, Md./Centennial) and freshman midfielder Adam Jerlow (Parker, Colo./Douglas County) contributed one apiece as USMMA improved to 11-5.

Freshman midfielder Mike Rufo (Broomall, Pa./Haverford School) and sophomore attacker Robert Pantages (Roseland, N.J./West Essex) led the Royals, now 9-7, with two goals apiece and sophomore attacker Thomas Alati (Glen Ridge, N.J./Montclair Kimberly) and freshman attacker Robby Napp (Spring Lake, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) tallied one each.

Scranton trailed the entire game but never by more than two goals. The Royals, who bell behind 3-2 after the first period and 5-4 at intermission, finally tied it up on the second of two goals by Rufo with 10:44 remaining in the fourth period. Scranton then managed only two shots on goal-both of which were saved by USMMA junior goalie Keegan Boyle (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug)-the rest of the way. Boyle finished with a game-high 10 saves, while Royals sophomore goalie Jeremy Dowiak (Hackettstown, N.J./West Morris) stopped eight shots.

Scranton held a commanding 15-2 advantage in face-offs and had a slight edge in shots (39-30) and ground balls (39-30), but the Royals had a hard time hanging onto the ball, committing 34 turnovers, including 10 in the final period. Earlier this season, Scranton dropped 10-9 decision to USMMA in a regular-season game on March 28, also in Kings Point.

Sophomore defender Stephen Bruestle (Holland, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and freshman attacker Brett Greer (Morton, Pa./Ridley) were each credited with an assist for Scranton.

Today's game in all likelihood was the final one for Royal seniors Brendan Clifford (Kentfield, Calif./Marin Catholic), Thomas Kornobis (Merrick, N.Y./W.C. Mepham), and Nick Youngstrom (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal).

In 49 games, Clifford finished with 25 goals and 12 assists for 37 total points. Kornobis ends his run in a Royal uniform ranked second all-time in Scranton history with 78 assists and 12th in total points with 114 (36 goals, 78 assists), while Youngstrom, a three-year letterman, is tied for 13th in goals (72) and 16th in total points (105) in Royals' history.

Scranton has now qualified for a conference post-season tournament all three seasons under head coach Kevin Dugan. He has also led the Royals to a 28-21 overall record (.571).

2009-05-02