St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Rutgers
St. John's Falls in Season-Opener at Rutgers
2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Despite scoring three goals in the first four minutes of the game, St. John's (0-1) dropped its season-opener at Rutgers (1-0), 19-11, on a blustery cold day in which temperatures did not rise above 28 degrees at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, N.J.
"I was proud of the way our guys kept playing. We had a hard time containing Rutgers transition game. Every time we got a little momentum, they answered in this unsettled game," said Head Coach Jason Miller.
The Red Storm employed a balanced attacking unit that saw eight different Johnnies tally points in the game, including a couple of hat tricks by two of Miller's starting attackmen. Eric DeJohn, who was unanimously selected to the Coaches Preseason All-BIG EAST team, led the St. John's offense with six points on three goals and three assists. Freshman Declan Swartwood, who impressed in his first career start at St. John's, tallied four points on one goal and three assists. Jason DeBenedictis, the team's second returning leading-scorer, picked up three points on three assisted goals.
Although St. John's saw successes while maintaining possession in the attacking portion of the field, the Red Storm was unable to contain Rutgers' transition game, losing the groundball battle 45-22. Rutgers kept the ball for long portions of play as the Scarlet Knights edged St. John's in faceoffs, winning 22-of-34, and as a result outshot the Johnnies 47-32. In 2015, Rutgers ranked as the fifth-best faceoff unit in NCAA Division I.
"There were just too many fast break and slow break opportunities. [Rutgers] scored off the faceoff, off the save, and off the loose ball. They must have had a dozen transition goals today. It really put us on our heels," said Miller.
St. John's edged Rutgers in man-up opportunities, converting three out of three chances, as Rutgers went 1-of-3. The two teams were fairly even in the turnover battle, as St. John's committed 14 to Rutgers 11.
After taking an early 3-0 lead, thanks to goals by DeJohn, DeBendictis and a man-up goal by senior co-captain James Bonanno, St. John's found itself in a five-goal deficit when Rutgers went on an 8-0 run during the last eight minutes of the first quarter. With less than a minute of play left in the first frame, DeJohn took it upon himself to stop the extended run, scoring on an unassisted opportunity from the left of the net.
Rutgers did not let the momentum sway back in St. John's direction, scoring three goals in the first six minutes of the second quarter. Adam Charalambides and Scott Bieda, the game's high scorers, notched two of these points for Rutgers en route to six- and five-goal games, respectively. With 11 minutes remaining in the first half, facing a 10-4 hole, Coach Miller decided to make a switch in goal, swapping out Joseph Danaher for Michael O'Keeffe. O'Keeffe, a redshirt freshman, helped to slow down the Rutgers attack, saving three-of-five in the remaining minutes of the half.
Both offenses slowed down in the second and third quarter, tallying only nine of the game's 30 goals in that time.
Coming out of halftime, down 12-5, St. John's appeared reinvigorated scoring the period's first two goals and cutting the lead to just five. Swartwood scored the first goal of this half, also notching a historic goal, the first of his collegiate career. Rutgers answered minutes later with two unassisted goals, taking the lead back to seven at the end of three. Rutgers was able to put the game away in the fourth, outscoring St. John's, 5-4, in the final frame and edging the Johnnies 7-of-10 on faceoffs. Two of these Rutgers goals came on opportunities starting from behind the net. DeJohn added another late goal with a slick spin move and ball fake on a run from behind the net.
On the day, St. John's caused three turnovers as starters Jack McClellan and Kyle Skramko each picked up one. Sophomore John Saunders would pick up the other. Coming off the bench, Nick Heller led the team in groundballs, corralling four.
St. John's will host its home-opener on Thursday, Feb. 18 as the Jacksonville Dolphins come to Queens for a 3 p.m. battle at DaSilva Memorial Field. Live coverage of the game will be provided by ESPN3.
