ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE MEN'S LACROSSE
Saturday, April 28, 2007

Elizabethtown Defeats DeSales 14-9; Blue Jays Receive #2 Seed in MAC Playoffs

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. --- Elizabethtown College defeated DeSales University 14-9 on the road Saturday to complete the regular season with a 10-4 overall record and 7-3 mark in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The win also helped secure the #2 seed in next week’s MAC playoffs, the highest seeding the Blue Jays have ever attained heading into the conference postseason. DeSales ended its season 7-9 overall and 2-8 in the MAC with the loss.

Frankie Puzzangara (Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven) led the Etown offense with six goals, three assists, nine points and 14 shots. He also had seven ground balls in the game. Eric Peifer (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield) and Aaron Weber (Lititz, PA/Manheim Township) led Elizabethtown in ground balls with eight apiece, and Weber scored one goal and tossed out three assists for four points. Ryan McCafferty (Orlando, FL/William R. Boone) scored three times for Etown, and Phil Robinson (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) scored a pair of goals. Keith Staulters (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) and Andrew Wagner (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) each scored a goal and had an assist for Etown, and John Day (Thornton, PA/Bishop Shanahan) and Gary Senese (Leonardtown, MD/Tatnall School, DE) each had an assist.

Dan Thomer led DeSales in scoring with three goals and one assist, while Matthew Brancaccio scored twice and assisted two more Bulldog goals. Joshua Van Hart had two goals and an assist for DeSales, and Danny Larkin scored a goal and notched an assist. DeSales goalie Ben Conry made 15 saves.

Because Elizabethtown has the second seed in next week’s MAC playoffs, it receives a bye in Monday’s quarterfinal round. The Blue Jays will return to action in the MAC semifinals at home Thursday, May 3 at 4:00 p.m. against the highest winning seed from Monday’s quarterfinals.

at Center Valley, PA
Elizabethtown 14, DeSales 9
Score by period       1 2 3 4   Tot
-------------------------------------
Elizabethtown ....... 3 4 3 4 - 14
DeSales University .. 2 2 2 3 - 9

Elizabethtown SCORING: GOALS: Frankie Puzzangara 6; Ryan McCafferty 3; Phil Robinson 2; Aaron Weber 1; Andrew Wagner 1; Keith Staulters 1. ASSISTS: Frankie Puzzangara 3; Aaron Weber 3; John Day 1; Gary Senese 1; Keith Staulters 1; Andrew Wagner 1.

DeSales University SCORING: GOALS: Dan Thomer 3; Matthew Brancaccio 2; Joshua Van Hart 2; Danny Larkin 1; Matthew Kruszewski 1. ASSISTS: Matthew Brancaccio 2; Sam Gobeli 2; Shane Corley 1; Danny Larkin 1; Dan Thomer 1; Joshua Van Hart 1.

Elizabethtown GROUND BALLS: Eric Peifer 8; Aaron Weber 8; Frankie Puzzangara 7; John Day 4; Josh Dougherty 3; Frank Cacia 2; Chris Day 2; Jeff Long 2; Chris Schuch 2; Andrew Wagner 2; Dan Hinder 1; Gary Senese 1.

DeSales University GROUND BALLS: Sam Gobeli 7; Joshua Van Hart 6; Jon-Erik Stamatelos 5; Dan Thomer 5; Craig Rogers 4; Matthew Brancaccio 3; Andrew Ervin 2; Daniel Quinn 2; Tom Carr 1; Ben Conroy 1; Shane Corley 1; Danny Larkin 1; Paul Ramsden 1; James Ramsey 1.

SHOTS - ETOWN 55; DSU 36.
PENALTIES - ETOWN 10/7:00; DSU 8/6:00.
MAN-UP OPPORTUNITIES - ETOWN 0-6; DSU 0-8.
FACEOFFS - ETOWN 13-25; DSU 12-25.
CLEARS - ETOWN 23-26; DSU 21-26. 

GOALIES - ETOWN: Chris Schuch (60:00 minutes, 21 shots-12 saves, 9 GA); DSU: Ben Conroy (60:00, 29-15, 14).