ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The St. John Fisher University men's lacrosse team competed against No. 3 RIT on Wednesday night on the road. The Cardinals stayed right in it with top ranked Tigers up until the last few minutes when RIT pulled away. At the end of regulation, the Tigers came out on top by a final score of 16-14. The Cardinals now have a 0-5 record on the season, while the Tiger jump to 7-1.
The Tigers came out and recorded the first goal of the night just nine seconds into the game. Jacob Gallina took advantage of a RIT turnover and found the back of the net to tie it at 1-1. The Tigers will score the next three goals to make the score 4-1 with 5:56 left in the first. Gallina got his second of the day and Timmy Salit recorded his first to bring the Cardinals just down by one heading into the second quarter.
Matthew Kemmis finished on a quick shot off an assist from Salit to tie the game up at 4-4 just 30 seconds into the second quarter. Braeden McNeill recorded his first goal of the season off an assist from Lane Edinger to give Fisher their first lead of the night. A hat trick for Gallina as he nets his third to bring the score to 6-4, Fisher on top with 11:09 to go in the half. A shot clock violation on the Tigers gives the Cardinals possession. Griffin Dautrich makes the most of the opportunity and finds the back of the net, assisted by Salit. Dugan Doeblin picks up the next face-off and brings it into the offensive end for another crucial Fisher possession late in the second. Ethan Kesselring finds Gallina for his fourth of the game to bring Fisher up 8-5, their largest lead of the night with 2:45 left until half. RIT scores the final two goals of the half, Fisher leads 8-7 at halftime.
RIT came out fast, and recorded the first two goals of the third to gain the lead. Fisher answered right back, Logan Grom recored a caused turnover and ground ball and transitioned it safely to the offense. Samuel Miller capitalized on Grom's defensive hustle to end the Tigers run tying the score back up at 9-9. Grom won the next face-off, which led to a Fisher goal from Kesselring assisted by Edinger. Defender, Brian Jantz picks up the face-off win and takes it all the way to record his first collegiate goal and bring the score to 11-9 Fisher leads.
Kesselring picks up his second of the night off an assist from Gallina, the Cardinals go up by three with 9:13 to go in the third. RIT records the last two goals of the third to bring the score to 12-11, Fisher on top heading into the fourth. The Tigers put in two quick goals to start the fourth and gain the lead. Dautrich ends the run, assisted by Salit to tie it up at 13-13. Kesselring records a hat trick and the Cardinals final goal of the game to bring the score to 14-14 with 9:54 to go in regulation. The Tigers found the back of the net two more times to secure a 16-14 win as time ran out.
Gallina led the team on the offensive end, finishing with four goals and two assists for six points on the night. Kesselring recorded a hat trick and one assist for four points and added two ground balls. Jantz on the defensive end recorded three ground balls and one goal.
Up next for the Cardinals, the team will travel to Amherst, MA and compete against Amherst College on March 25th at 12pm.
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