QUEENS, N.Y. (April 17, 2009) – Hobart slipped by the St. John’s men’s lacrosse team, 10-9, in a tightly-matched ECAC conference contest on Friday at DaSilva Memorial Field. The score was tied four times in just the first half in the competitive league game. Hobart’s three-goal lead in the fourth period was enough to keep the Statesmen one goal ahead of the Red Storm.

Senior Drew Schanen led St. John’s in scoring with three points off two goals and one assist. Senior Trevor Michaelsen had two goals. Senior Dom DeNapoli had a tremendous day at the face-off X, winning 15-of-22 draws.

With the loss, the Red Storm falls to 5-6 on the season and 1-5 in league play. Hobart advances its record to 6-5, 2-4 in the ECAC.

Hobart got on the board first with a man-up goal from Tim Bigelow.

St. John’s put it right back one minute later as senior LSM DeNapoli intercepted a Hobart clearing pass on the run. DeNapoli bobbled the ball, but picked it up quickly and ran up the right sideline to score about 20 feet away from the net to tie the score at 1-1 at 11:11.

Once again stopping a Statesman clear, the Red Storm made it 2-1 at 9:01 with a goal from Matt Hurst fed from long-stick defender Mike Sherry. Sherry, a sophomore, caused a Hobart turnover and stole the ground ball. On the fast break clear, Sherry saw Hurst on the left for a one-time pass on the run into the Statesman net, tallying his first career assist.

Hobart tied the score at 2-2 with an unassisted goal from Kevin Curtin at 5:47.

However, St. John’s came right back with a goal from Michaelsen off a pass in front of the net by Schanen.

The Statesmen tied the score for the third time 40 seconds later with their second man-up goal of the day at 3:11. Going into the second period, the score was tied, 3-3.

Schanen gave the Red Storm the one-goal lead once again with 13:35 left in the half, 4-3. Schanen picked off a pass from Hobart goaltender Max Silberlicht in a failed clear attempt for Hobart. The senior turned right around to score his first goal of the day.

Hobart came back with three-straight goals, the largest scoring run of the game, to give the Statesmen a 6-4 lead with 2:11 left in the half. Fed by senior Jamal Jones, Michaelsen brought the score within one goal with 32 seconds on the game clock. St. John’s trailed 6-5 during the halftime break.

Off the intermission, Schanen scored his second goal of the game off a pass from freshman Harry Kutner who was well positioned at the X behind the net. With 9:28 left in the third period, the score was tied 6-6.

Hobart took another two-goal lead with goals from Chris Pedersen and Mike Lazore to take a 8-6 lead with just under six minutes to play in the third. Red Storm senior Malcolm Miles got St. John’s right back in the game with a goal fed by Hurst with just over a minute left in the period.

In the final stanza, Hobart scored twice more to take a three goal, 10-7 lead over St. John’s with 12:01 left in regulation.

After Hobart’s final goal, scored by Kevin Curtin, St. John’s maintained a long possession while looking to set up a come-back. With 9:33 left to play, Hobart regained possession as Miles’ shot was saved by Silberlicht. Sherry gave St. John’s back the ball as he caused his fourth turnover of the game. Junior Reggie Davis picked up the ball and cleared the ball downfield to Kutner who netted another fast break goal for the Red Storm.

With just under six minutes to play, junior Garrett Mitchell was called for a holding penalty. Not to be discouraged, the St. John’s man-down defense, led by Dan Cremens, Sherry, Carlin Cornetta and Jerry Nevin kept the Statesmen quiet and regained possession with 5:40 left on the game clock. Rookie Carl Iacona cleared the ball and scored his second man-down goal of the season on a fast break run at 5:34. Iacona’s goal brought St. John’s within one goal, 10-9.

St. John’s got off three shots in the last five minutes of play, but couldn’t connect for the tying goal. Two of those shots were saved by Silberlicht.

Hobart scored three off its goals on man-up opportunities. St. John’s won the face-off battle winning 15-of-23 draws. Hobart’s Silverlicht had 12 saves, while Red Storm junior goalie Gavin Buckley saved eight.

DeNapoli led the Red Storm with nine ground balls.

In a quick turnaround, St. John’s will travel to Notre Dame, Ind., to face-off against the undefeated No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Game time is set for Sunday, April 19 at 1 p.m. on Alumni Field.

– Red Storm –