ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland men's lacrosse team secured a decisive victory over Cairn University in the semifinals of the United East Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament. Playing at home on Tuesday evening, the Seahawks, who are the reigning champions and top seed, extended their winning streak with a 27-4 thrashing of the fourth-seeded Highlanders.
The match began with Cairn University taking an early lead as Jonathan Balsamo scored the opening goal at 11:21. However, St. Mary's quickly responded, igniting a 15-0 scoring run led by freshman Declan Horton, which decisively shifted the momentum. By the third quarter, St. Mary's had established a commanding 15-1 lead.
Nicholas Kennedy of Cairn momentarily interrupted the Seahawk onslaught with a goal, his first of the season. St. Mary's, undeterred, resumed their dominance with an additional 8-0 run, further extending their lead to 23-2 in the fourth quarter. Balsamo managed one more goal for Cairn before St. Mary's closed the game with four unanswered goals.
In terms of game statistics, St. Mary's College was overwhelmingly dominant. The Seahawks outshot Cairn 77-16 and controlled the ground balls with a 61-16 advantage. Face-off wins also went heavily in St. Mary's favor, with the team winning 29 of 34 attempts.
Individual performances were notable, with junior Keegan Preis leading the scoring with seven points from two goals and five assists. Sophomore Liam McNulty added five goals, tying his career-high in points. Other significant contributors included Mark LoPresto and Declan Horton, each adding four points to the Seahawks' tally. Matteo Ciccarello, another sophomore, excelled in face-offs, winning 29 of 33 and collecting a game-high 26 ground balls.
For Cairn University, goalkeeper Nico Cione was a standout despite the loss, saving 24 shots during the match.
Looking ahead, St. Mary's College will host the final of the United East Conference Tournament at JLR Stadium on May 4. They will face the winner of the semifinal between second-seeded Penn College and third-seeded Keystone College.
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