Rams Hold Off Kean; Advance to Skyline Championship
#1 Farmingdale State - 7, #4 Kean University - 6
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's lacrosse team defeated Kean University, 7-6, and advanced to the Skyline Conference Championship for the first time in program history. The top-seeded Rams will host the winner of #3 Maritime vs. #2 Montclair State on Saturday, April 30th at 1:00 p.m.
Farmingdale State (10-4) took an early lead as junior midfielder Jimmy Owsinski (Kings Park, N.Y.) scored a man-up goal in the games opening minutes. Sophomore midfielder Bobby Thomas (Wantagh, N.Y.) and junior midfielder Tim Caden (Setauket, N.Y.) scored a pair of goals in a 49 second span to give the Rams a 3-0 advantage with 7:01 remaining in the first period. Farmingdale extended their lead to 4-0 on a Shannon Robinson (Freeport, N.Y.) score off the feed from Caden. Kean's (8-7) Nick Angrisani (Belle Mead, N.J.) responded with back-to-back goals both assisted by Ryan Buerkle (Hillsborough, N.J.) to close out the first period.
Leading 4-2 late in the second period, junior attack Ryan Oswald (Floral Park, N.Y.) netted a pass from Robinson, increasing Farmingdale's lead back to three. Chris Masiulis (Ellicott City, Md.) tallied an unassisted goal for the Cougars with 36 seconds remaining in the half which cut the deficit to 5-3.
Each team traded a goal in the third period and Kean pulled within 6-5 in the fourth after a Brad Mills (Vernon, N.J.) goal with 6:15 remaining. Senior attack Wes Hubschmitt (Seaford, N.Y.) put the Rams ahead 7-5 as he scored the eventual game-winning goal after being setup by Caden 1:30 later. Kean's Adolfo Arrieta (Summit, N.J.) again cut the deficit to 7-6 with 1:15 to play. After a Cougars missed shot with nine seconds remaining, the Rams earned the possession and ran out the clock to secure a birth into the Skyline Conference Championship game.
Caden recorded a team-high three points with one goal and two assists, while Owsinski had two goals. Hubschmitt had one goal, an assist and a game-high six ground balls. Senior goalkeeper Brian Nerney (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) made 11 saves for Farmingdale State.
The Cougars were led by Angrisani who scored a game-high three goals, had one assist and picked up four ground balls.
The Rams will host the Skyline Conference Championship on Saturday, April 30th at 1:00 p.m.
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