QUEENS, N.Y. (May 3, 2009) – Red Storm senior Dom DeNapoli tallied his first career hat trick in the 2009 season-finale against No. 3 Duke on Sunday. The Blue Devils outscored the Red Storm, 20-7, in the non-conference contest at home in front of a record-breaking crowd of 1,254 at DaSilva Memorial Field. With the loss, St. John's closes out its 2009 season with a 5-9 record, while the Blue Devils will advance their record to 13-3.

Duke got off to a five-goal lead in the first half until freshmen Carl Iacona got St. John's on the board with an unassisted goal at 4:56. Iacona came around the back of the Blue Devil net and took a wide angle shot from the left to score past goaltender Rob Schroader.

The Blue Devils lead 12-1 at the half. Scoring off the opening face-off of the third period, DeNapoli, a long-stick middie and face-off specialist scored his fifth goal of the season, making the score 12-2. Duke's Tom Rynn answered back, securing the Blue Devil lead.

DeNapoli scored once again as the Red Storm capitalized on a scramble in front of the St. John's net. A turnover and ground ball pick up by senior Matt Viscusi turned into a fast break-clear for St. John's, resulting in DeNapoli's second goal of the game.

Mirroring his first goal, DeNapoli netted his first-career hat trick, once again scoring off a face-off victory and ground ball pick up. DeNapoli finished his career with 258 ground balls, 10 goals and five assists.

Down 15-4, senior Malcolm Miles scored with the final second of the third period dwindling on the clock. Blue Devil Ned Crotty started off the scoring in the final period at 11:52 to put the Blue Devils up 16-5.

Miles came right back with his second goal of the game at 10:32, making the score 16-6. Miles finished his season 18 points off ten goals and eight assists. The senior finished his career with 20 goals, 11 assists.

Duke scored two-straight man-up goals before Iacona closed out scoring for the Red Storm at 8:24 with a goal assisted by senior Jamal Jones. Duke scored twice in a 20-second span at 7:38 to close the game up 20-7.

Iacona finished his rookie season with 18 goals, six assists and 24 points. Jones finished with nine assists, the second highest on the team and six goals.

Junior goaltender Gavin Buckley had 10 saves in the net for St. John's, which made his season tally 140.

The season-closer featured a pregame presentation for the nine Red Storm seniors, DeNapoli, Bobby Fitton, Jones, Tom Manes, Pat McClay, Trevor Michaelsen, Malcolm Miles, Drew Schanen and Viscusi, who played their final game for the Red Storm.

At halftime, the senior class presented St. John's alumnus Joe Weingart (Class of 1986) with the No. 2 jersey in honor of his many accomplishments as a goaltender for the Red Storm. Weingart was St. John's only NCAA All-American and is currently the program's all-time career saves leader.

Schanen finished the season as the 2009 leader in points (29) and goals (24). Michaelsen, Iacona and Harry Kutner each finished second with 24 points.

2009-05-03