Old Westbury, N.Y. (March 19, 2008) – Sophomore Austin Carino (Huntington, N.Y.) scored a career-high six goals and passed out an assist to lead #2 NYIT over Seton Hill University 20-9 this afternoon in men's lacrosse non-conference action. NYIT remains undefeated on the season, improving to 5-0. The loss drops Seton Hill to 3-5 overall.

The Griffins struck first as Ben Petchel notched an unassisted score just 2:16 into the first quarter. After sophomore Matt Sullivan (West Islip, N.Y.) responded for NYIT with his own unassisted goal at the 10:00 minute mark, Seton Hill's Dan Ruby scored off of a Petchel assist to give the Griffins a 2-1 lead. That would be Seton Hill's last lead as the Bears responded with seven straight goals spanning the remainder of the first quarter and the second quarter, including four straight at one point from Carino to give NYIT an 8-2 lead. Petchel and Ruby scored back-to-back goals for Seton Hill in the second quarter to make it a 9-4 game, but sophomore Kevin Hennessy (West Babylon, N.Y.) netted a man-down goal with 7:00 minutes remaining and after another Griffin's goal, junior Matt Messina (Sayville, N.Y.) and Carino closed out the half with goals off of assists from Sullivan to head into intermission with an 11-5 lead.

Seton Hill scored two of the first three goals in the third quarter to pull within 12-7 with just under 10 minutes left, but the Bears responded by scoring eight of the next nine goals. Seven different Bears scored during the run as NYIT built a commanding 20-8 lead with 6:36 left to play in the fourth quarter. Hennessy finished with three goals and three assists, Sullivan added two goals and three assists and junior Keith Henderson (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) scored three goals and now has 27 goals in the Bears first five games. Junior Dan Goosk (Oceanside, N.Y.) improved to 3-0 in the net for the Bears, making three saves.

Petchel led the griffins with two goals and four assists and Ruby added three goals and an assist in the loss. The Bears outshot Seton Hill 52-25 and scored on 4-6 of their man-up opportunities.

NYIT returns to action this Saturday, March 22 as they open ECC play, hosting Molloy College at 1:00 p.m.

2008-03-19