St. John’s Downed by No. 16/15 Delaware, 17-6

Saturday, February 17

Queens, N.Y. (DaSilva Memorial Field)

1 p.m.

St. John's University

0-4

No. 16/15 Delaware

2-0

DELAWARE

St. John's

2/17/2024 4:45:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

Junior attackman Brian Kelly notched his third-straight hat trick

Junior attackman Brian Kelly notched his third straight four-point performance, but the St. John's lacrosse team fell to No. 16/15 Delaware on Saturday, 17-6, at DaSilva Memorial Field.

Kelly scored three goals and added an assist, notching his third-consecutive hat trick. The junior's four points puts him at 106 for his career, moving him into sole possession of 13^th place on the program's all-time points list. Through four games, Kelly leads the Red Storm in goals (11) and points (14).

Bobby Seel added a goal for the Johnnies (0-4), extending his team-best point streak to five games, dating back to 2023. Seel's 10 points and six goals are both second most on the team. The junior scooped a season-high four groundballs on the afternoon.

Caiden Vlasimsky recorded a pair of helpers, giving him five assists on the season which leads all Red Storm players. Vlasimsky has recorded at least two points in all four games in 2024. Redshirt freshman Adrian Nowak tallied a goal for the Red Storm for his fourth score of the year.

Garden City, N.Y., native Pat Reilly scored on the man-up advantage for the second-straight game.

Freshman Adam Dembicki won 12-of-23 faceoffs against the Blue Hens, giving him 36 wins at the faceoff 'X' this season. Dembicki set a new season-high, scooping a game-best eight groundballs on Saturday.

Defensively, Jack Schirtzer caused two turnovers and scooped two loose balls for the Red Storm and Ronald Durante stopped eight of the 16 shots he faced between the pipes.

Mike Robinson scored seven goals for Delaware (2-0), while John McCurry and JP Ward each tallied a hat trick. Goaltender Kevin Ellington made 15 saves.

After Delaware struck first just 2:30 into the game, Kelly responded 59 seconds later, scoring off a move from behind the net to tie the game at one. The Blue Hens scored four consecutive goals over the last 7:20 of the frame to take a 5-1 lead after the first.

Delaware scored four goals in the first 3:58 of the second quarter to extend its lead to 9-1. Nowak ended the Delaware run 42 seconds later off a feed from Vlasimsky. After the Blue Hens went on a mini two-goal run to stretch the lead to 11-2, Vlasimsky picked up his second helper of the game with 2:54 left in the half when Seel ripped a shot past Ellington from the left side. Delaware scored one more time at the end of the quarter to go up 12-3, heading into the locker room.

Three early goals to start the third stanza extended the Delaware lead to 15-3. Kelly's second goal of the day gave the Johnnies their fourth tally of the game, but the Blue Hens' fourth score of the period gave the visitors a 16-4 advantage after three quarters.

In the fourth stanza, Reilly scored on the man-up for the second consecutive game, converting on the doorstep of the crease off a feed from Kelly. Kelly completed the hat trick with just under seven minutes left in the game, once again scoring on a move from behind the crease. Delaware scored one goal in the final frame.

After playing three of its first four games in Queens to start the season, the Red Storm will play five of its next six on the road. Next up for St. John's is a visit to Virginia next Saturday for a battle with No. 17/16 Richmond. Faceoff from E. Claiborne Robins Stadium is set for noon.