St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Vermont
Vermont Takes 14-9 Win Over St. John's Lacrosse
3/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
March 19, 2011
BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Vermont Catamounts won a 14-9 contest over St. John's in Saturday lacrosse action at Moulton Winder Field in Burlington, Vt.
Vermont sophomore Drew Philie, the team's points leader entering the game, tallied four goals on nine shots. A.J. Masson compiled five points with three assists and two goals. Vermont improved to 4-3 on the season with the win.
St. John's (1-5, 0-1) was led by freshmen Kevin Cernuto and Kieran McArdle who combined for all nine Red Storm goals. McArdle scored a career-high five goals for his third multi-goal game and second hat trick this year. Cernuto tallied his third hat trick of the season, scoring four goals on six shots.
The Catamounts were able to build their lead due to strong play in the face-off X, winning 14-19 draws in the first three quarters.
Vermont opened the game with two quick goals as the Catamounts' Philie netted a shot at the 14:00 minute mark off an assist from Masson. After a Catamount face-off win, Masson took it himself to give a Vermont the 2-0 advantage.
St. John's responded when midfielder Jarrett Carr passed to Cernuto in the middle of the field. Cernuto dodged right and scored on the run to make it 2-1. McArdle tied the game at two after a run from behind the net led to a score on the right side.
Worley gave the lead back to Vermont at the 4:23 mark of the first period, finding the net after Masson set him up for another assist. The Vermont run extended into the second quarter as the Catamounts attacked in an unsettled situation, shooting on goalkeeper Jeff Lowman who made the initial save. However, Philie corralled the rebound in front of the net and put it in for his second goal of the game.
After a Vermont goal from Worley, St. John's short-stick midfielder Brandon Ayers caused a turnover with a big hit in the Red Storm defensive half that led to a St. John's score, as McArdle attacked from the right side, faked a pass and hit the back of the net to cut it to 5-3.
Philie registered his third goal of the game at the 6:42 mark, but Cernuto closed the half with his second goal, this time from X, to make the margin 6-4 at intermission.
Vermont came out firing early in the second half as Luke Ryder hit the net from the right side at the 14:34 mark. Just nine seconds later, a Catamount face-off win led to a goal from Max Gradinger that opened up the game at 8-4.
Vermont tacked on another four goals to end the third quarter, holding a 12-4 lead heading into the final period.
Cernuto and McArdle continued their scoring for St. John's in the fourth quarter, combining for five goals in the final period of play.
Cernuto notched two goals, with assists from McArdle and freshman Ryan Fitzgerald, while McArdle found the net on a man-up opportunity, a man-down situation at 2:09 and a goal in the final moments. McArdle's fourth goal was St. John's first man-down goal this season.
Defensively, sophomore Dillon Ayers and freshman Joe Addona combined for seven ground balls, while Ayers also tallied three caused turnovers. Sophomore Jeff Lowman made 12 saves while allowing 13 goals and Daniel McQuillan saw his first action of his Red Storm career, playing 14:02 in net in the final quarter.
St. John's will travel to face nationally-ranked Hofstra in primetime action on Tuesday, March 22, in Hempstead, N.Y.
