Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Men’s Lax: Season Starts off Golden for Hoyas

Season Starts off Golden for Hoyas

By Karen Travers Hoya Staff Writer

The No. 4-ranked Georgetown men’s lacrosse team continued to roll over a weak early season schedule, sending the Butler Bulldogs back to Indiana with a 18-7 loss and a 1-2 record.

The Hoyas record currently stands at 4-0, with wins over Army and Penn State over spring break. The Hoyas played host to the Cadets of West Point and won 15-5, and then traveled up to State College and defeated the Nittany Lions 17-8.

Despite a weaker schedule than the other teams around them in the top five, Georgetown has shown flashes of why it deserves to be ranked among the elite teams in Division I lacrosse. Although at times sluggish on offense against Butler, when the Hoyas pulled it together, the Bulldog defense was no match for an attack unit that pounded the cage all day and a midfield that goes about seven or eight men deep.

Senior attackman and captain Andy Flick had another strong day on offense for Georgetown, scoring six points off of three goals and three assists. Fellow senior attackman and captain Scott Urick also scored four goals and recorded an assist. Urick’s 13 goals are a team-high this season.

Butler opened up the scoring with an early goal but Georgetown scored the next five goals to take a commanding 5-1 lead off a hat trick by Urick.

Georgetown could not find a rhythm on offense in the second half and had difficulty holding the ball on the offensive end of the field. Butler came back and capitalized on a lackadaisical Hoya offense and cut the lead to 6-4 with 6:34 remaining in the second quarter.

Urick got the ball moving again, scoring his fourth goal of the day just 38 seconds later off an assist from sophomore midfielder Steve Dusseau. Until Urick’s goal, the Hoyas had gone for almost nine minutes without a score – a period that began with a missed scoring opportunity on an extra-man situation.

All of Georgetown’s second quarter offensive problems were erased in the third period when the Hoyas unleashed a scoring barrage of six goals, including four in just over three minutes. With a commanding 13-4 lead at the end of the third period, the Hoyas were in control of the game and would hold the lead for the remainder of time.

Butler cut the lead to 13-7 on goals from midfielder Mike Regan but could not come any closer, and the Hoyas could put five more goals into the cage to seal the win.

Senior attackman Peter Velepec continued to pour in a consistent effort on offense for Georgetown, scoring one goal but notching three assists. Junior midfielder Mike Henehan also chipped in three goals.

Georgetown led Butler in shots, 59-34 and in groundballs, 38-25.

The Hoyas, led by sophomore Mike Kanach and junior Ryan Perraut, dominated Butler in the face-off circle, winning 21 of 27 face-offs. Kanach and Perraut got significant help from the wingmen on the face-offs, with sophomore midfielder Brett Wagner and freshman midfielder P.J. Paolisso picking up key groundballs on the wings.

Sophomore goalie Scott Schroeder finished the day with 12 saves and seven goals allowed. The Butler goalie stopped 21 shots but allowed 18 Hoya goals.

Next up for Georgetown is Maryland-Baltimore County, a team that was expected to again be a contender for the NCAA postseason tournament in May. But the Terriers, who lost six starters from last year’s 11-4 team, have struggled early on and with a recent loss to a strong Cornell team, fell to 1-2 for the season. A loss to the Hoyas would pretty much end the Terriers’ postseason hopes but a win could breathe life into a sluggish start of the season.

The game will be played on Kehoe Field at noon Sunday afternoon.

Related Links

 Men’s Lacrosse Page-Men’s Lacrosse Schedule

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