Fast Start Propels No. 2 Mustangs Past No. 12 WNE

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Stevenson scored six first-quarter goals, including three from senior Peter Green (Hereford, Md./Hereford), and won 7 of 8 face-offs to take a 6-1 lead as the No. 2-ranked Mustangs cruised to a 9-5 victory over No. 12 Western New England Saturday at Mustang Stadium.

Stevenson (4-0) remained unbeaten in four meetings against the Golden Bears and is now 16-1 in two seasons at Mustang Stadium.

Green's three goals tied a career-high, equaling his total against Nazareth in the season-opener when he added an assist for a career-high four points.

Green scored the Mustangs' first two goals of the game, the second coming at 4:41 of the first period off an assist from senior Nick Rossi (Lutherville, Md./Towson) to give Stevenson the lead for good. His second goal sparked a 5-0 run, giving the Mustangs a 6-1 lead after the first quarter.

Stevenson outshot Western New England 11-6 in the opening quarter while sophomore Sam Wyatt (Brentwood, Tenn./Human Services) won seven of the eight face-offs after he was whistled for a violation following the Mustangs' fourth goal of the game.

The Golden Bears (0-1) rallied in the second quarter, outscoring Stevenson 3-1 to pull within three at the half, 7-4. However, that would be as close as they would get as the two teams combined for just three second-half goals as the Mustang defense allowed just one on 18 shots.

Freshman Dimitri Pecunes (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) and senior Parker Bratton (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh School) highlighted a strong defensive effort as Pecunes totaled a career-high 11 saves for the second-straight game and Bratton posted six ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Senior Kyle Holechek (Reisterstown, Md./Loyola Blakefield) and junior Warren Pumphrey (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) also had two caused turnovers apiece.

Junior Glen Tompkins (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) finished with three points on a goal and two assists while Rossi, sophomore Billy Burgoyne (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes) and senior Tyler Reid (Clinton, Conn./Xavier) each had two points.

Wyatt won 10 of 12 face-offs and totaled eight ground balls while junior Brent Hiken (Pikesville, Md./Pikesville) was 4 for 4 at the x with three ground balls.

Corbett Corrigan-Harreys and Owen Caruso both had two goals for Western New England while Brandon Body made 17 saves.

Stevenson continues its four-game homestand on Wednesday when it hosts No. 16 Roanoke at Mustang Stadium beginning at 7:00 p.m.

2013-03-03