St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
1-1
No. 18/16 Delaware
2-0
St. John’s Falls at No. 18/16 Delaware, 17-10
2/15/2025 3:11:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Ryan Ormond and Brian Kelly combined for 10 points
NEWARK, Del. – The St. John's lacrosse team fell to No. 18/16 Delaware, 17-10, on Saturday at Delaware Stadium.
The Red Storm (1-1) led 9-7 at the intermission but were outscored 8-1 in the second half, suffering its first defeat of 2024.
The Johnnies' starting attack was again dynamic, accounting for 13 points on Saturday in The First State.
Freshman Ryan Ormond lit up the scoresheet for the second straight game, netting five tallies, four coming in the first 30 minutes. Through two games this season, the reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Week has 11 goals, most on the team
Brian Kelly had a big game, scoring a pair of goals and dishing out three assists. The senior has 11 points so far in 2025, and his eight helpers lead the Red Storm. Adrian Nowak followed up his 10-point explosion last Saturday with three assists against the Blue Hens. The BIG EAST's Offensive Player of the Week leads the Johnnies with 13 points on the season.
Dan Koban scored for the second straight game, and Bobby Seel found the back of the net to extend his team-best point streak to 18 games. Sophomore James Easton netted the first goal of his career, while freshman Jayson Cardenas earned the first point of his collegiate tenure with an assist.
The St. John's offense scored three man-up goals, the most in a game since April 22, 2023.
Defensively, Dylan Lee and Quinn Falasca each scooped a team-high three groundballs and caused five combined turnovers. In the Red Storm's two games this season, Falasca has eight loose balls and four forced giveaways.
As a team, St. John's held Delaware to 13-of-19 on clear attempts and forced 16 turnovers.
Matt Nelson made his first career start between the pipes, making 12 saves in 53:25.
Brendan Powers electrified the Delaware (2-0) offense, scoring a game-high six goals. John McCurry and Cory Capri each added a hat trick, while Tyler Owings and Jason Kolar each netted two goals for the home side. OJ Morris won 17-of-22 faceoffs and scooped 11 groundballs, and netminder Kevin Ellington made eight saves in the Blue Hens' win.
After winning the opening faceoff, the Johnnies quickly drew a penalty and took a 1-0 lead off a Koban snipe just 1:38 into the game. Delaware tied it on the ensuing possession, but the Red Storm retook the lead when an Edgar Ford-caused turnover sparked a fast break that led to Ormond's first of the afternoon. The freshman found the back of the net again at the 10:59 mark before Seel ripped a shot past Ellington's right shoulder three minutes later to give the Red Storm a 4-1 advantage with just under six minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The Blue Hens got a score back, but Kelly answered with a bouncer from the left side to reestablish the three-score advantage, 5-2 at the end of the first. Nelson made three saves on just five shots faced in the opening frame.
The second stanza remained scoreless for the first 4:42 until Delaware scored to get back within two, 5-3. Ormond secured his first-half hat trick with 8:29 left, taking a feed from Cardenas and scoring the Red Storm's second man-up goal of the afternoon to make the score 6-3. The Blue Hens got back within two, 6-4, and Easton bounced in a runner from 20 yards out, giving the Red Storm a 7-4 lead. The teams continued to go back and forth as Kelly answered another Delaware score with the Johnnies' third man-up goal, making it 8-5 with four minutes left in the half. Ormond got his fourth of the game late in the half to counter two Delaware scores, sending the Johnnies into the locker room up 9-7.
Delaware scored three goals in the first 12:50 of the third quarter to take its first lead of the game, 10-9, as the Blue Hens' defense shut down the Red Storm's explosive offense. Nelson made four saves in the third quarter and the Red Storm defense forced four turnovers.
One Ormond strike with 5:01 remaining was all St. John's could muster in the final frame, as Delaware scored seven goals to close out the win.
The Johnnies will return to Queens on Tuesday to face Quinnipiac in the team's home opener. Faceoff from Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium is set for 3 p.m.
