Bucknell University
Air Force
Bucknell Men's Lax Stifles Air Force at Patriot Cup, 9-2
3/21/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
March 21, 2009
DALLAS, Texas - Senior goalie Matt Antonelli (Arnold, Md./Archbishop Spalding) backed a terrific defensive effort with a career-high 13 saves and classmate Perry Menzies (Upperco, Md./Hereford) scored three more goals to lead the Bucknell men's lacrosse team to a 9-2 victory over Air Force on Saturday at the Patriot Cup at SMU's Ford Stadium.
Playing in the state of Texas for the first time in program history, Bucknell scored the first four and last four goals of the game. In between, the Bison yielded only single goals in the second and fourth quarters, despite being outshot 37-36. Antonelli, who picked up the win in relief against Denver on Tuesday, made his first start of the year in this one and made 10 saves in the middle two periods alone.
The win was Bucknell's third in a row, and the Bison have climbed back to .500 at 4-4 after a 1-4 start. Mike Danylyshyn (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) scored two goals and Joe Mele (Westbury, N.Y./Kellenburg Memorial), Tim Brandau (Owings Mills, Md./McDonogh), Chris Palmer (Atlanta, Ga./The Lovett School) and Billy Eisenreich (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) also scored for Bucknell.
Mele got the Bison on the board with an unassisted goal just 2:26 into the contest. Menzies, who recorded his third straight hat trick and now has 12 goals in the last four games, scored twice in a row to make it 3-0 after one quarter. Eisenreich scored off an assist from fellow freshman Nick Gantsoudes (Redding, Conn./Avon Old Farms) with 5:21 left in the half for a 4-0 lead.
Air Force (3-4) finally solved Antonelli with 2:53 remaining in the half as Tristan Newkirk broke up the shutout.
Bucknell carried an EMO into the fourth quarter and Danylyshyn scored with the man advantage to make it 5-1. Eric Evans answered for the Falcons, but Danylyshyn, Palmer, Menzies and Brandau all scored in the final 7:30 to put the game away.
Bucknell finished with a 34-27 edge in ground balls and won eight of the 14 faceoffs. Jake Clarke (Cos Cob, Conn./Greenwich) won seven of his 11 draws and snagged five ground balls. Freshman poles Jason Neithamer (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephen's & St. Agnes) and John Scally (Short Hills, N.J./Delbarton) combined for nine ground balls.
The two goals against marked Bucknell's best defensive effort since a 7-2 win over Holy Cross last season.
Junior Austin Winter (Boonton Twp., N.J./Mountain Lakes) recorded an assist in the game. It was his 75th career helper, moving him into sole possession of fourth on Bucknell's career list.
The Patriot Cup was a weeklong lacrosse showcase, featuring college games at the Division I, III and club levels, as well as high school games. In Saturday's D-I doubleheader, Notre Dame defeated Vermont 13-7 prior to Bucknell's win over Air Force. Proceeds from the Patriot Cup go to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Bucknell, which is now 7-0 all-time against Air Force, returns to action on Tuesday night at home against Towson. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
