SAINT LEO, Fla. - 10 Lions scored en route to a 19-8 rout over Coker College on Sunday afternoon at University Field, marking a special Senior Day celebration for five Saint Leo men's lacrosse players. With the win, the Lions climb to 7-5 on the season, while Coker drops to an overall record of 2-11.
Seniors Mark Benoit, Patrick Berry, Steven McDonald, Alex Monteferrante, and Cory Weindel stepped out onto University Field for their final regular season home game of their 2012 campaign, helping the Lions to close out the afternoon on a high note.
Matt Obermeyer and George Proechel led the game in goals with five apiece, with Proechel taking on an assist for a game-high six points on the day. Behind the 10-goal outing from the duo, Tom Horn, Ryan Burke, Chris Caiazza, Ray Ferrara, Robert Figueroa, Robert Hutchinson, Alex Raucci, and Monteferrante scored one goal each.
Horn led the team in assists with two, followed by Burke, Proechel, and Sean Connolly with one apiece.
The Cobras saw a four goal performance from Keith LaClair, while John Bretton led the team in points with a hat trick and three assists.
In goal for the Lions Berry set aside five shots in 45 minutes of play, allowing only five goals. Joe May stepped in cage for the fourth quarter, making three saves while yielding four shots.
Coker racked up a total of 15 saves on the afternoon after facing 50 shots and 33 shots on frame from the Lions. Josh Masciarelli earned nine saves, while Christian Steven set aside six in the final 15 minutes of action.
The Lions opened up to a 2-0 lead with two quick goals from Proechel and Obermeyer in the first minute of the game. But a goal from LaClair cut the Cobra's deficit in half a minute later. Saint Leo bit back, scoring three unanswered goals, including two from Obermeyer, to close out the first quarter with a 5-1 lead.
The second stanza saw Saint Leo outscore their opponent 5-2, setting the score at 10-3 at the half. The Lions dominated the third period, finding the back of the cage on seven shots while holding the Cobras to just two goals, to enter into the final quarter with a comfortable 17-5 advantage.
Coker muscled through the final period and outscored the Lions 4-1, but Saint Leo had secured the victory in the second quarter with a game-winning goal from Proechel with 5:12 to go before halftime.
Saint Leo dominated the shot count, 50-29, and placed 33 shots on frame to the Cobra's 18. Robert Hutchinson led the Green and Gold in faceoffs, winning 14-of-19 and helping the Lions win 20-of-31 on the afternoon. Hutchinson led the team in ground balls with nine, matching a career best, while Beau Besancenez and Figueroa picked up six each.
The Lions were successful on 21-of-27 clear attempts, and were 1-for-2 on man-up opportunities while a staunch man-down defense held the Cobras to just one goal on three man-up situations. Saint Leo caused 12 turnovers on the day, led by Sean Connolly with four, while Besancenez and Steven McDonald earned two each.
The Saint Leo men's lacrosse team returns to action on Saturday, April 7, when they square off against Deep South Conference rival Florida Southern in the final game of the regular season. The DSC showdown will have post-season implications, as it determines who will host the first round of the conference tournament on April 10. For the latest news, updates, and information on the men's lacrosse team, visit saintleolions.com.
