KINGS POINT, N.Y. | The Farmingdale State College men's lacrosse dropped its first Skyline Conference contest of the season Tuesday night at Brooks Stadium, as host U.S. Merchant Marine Academy used a 4-1 advantage in the first period and five-straight tallies over a 15-minute stretch in the second half to outlast the visiting Rams by a 15-12 count.
FSC (8-2, 2-1 Skyline) received a four-point night from senior attacker Jake Wandle (Rocky Point, N.Y.) on two goals and as many assists, while classmate Rob Varello (Smithtown, N.Y.) added a hat trick for the Rams. Junior defender Gino Luchetti (Farmingville, N.Y.) caused three turnovers on the Farmingdale State defense, while junior goalie Kevin Loonie (Lynbrook, N.Y.) made five of his 11 saves on the night in the fourth period -- many of the point-blank variety.
USMMA (4-6, 1-1) raced out to a 3-0 lead 13 minutes into the contest, before Wandle got the visitors on the board on an unassisted tally with 1:41 remaining on the first-period clock. Varello bagged the first of his two man-up tallies off a Wandle feed 2:57 into the second frame, before Mariners freshman Jack Collins (Memphis, Tenn.), who led all players with five goals and as many assists, netted twice midway through to push the hosts' advantage to four goals at 6-2. Farmingdale State pulled two back in the final 3:25 before halftime, with sophomore Thomas Stock (Selden, N.Y.) and junior Hunter Lyons (E. Islip, N.Y.) converting to slice the USMMA lead to 6-4.
The third period saw the teams score five goals apiece, before the hosts netted four consecutive goals in the fourth stanza to secure a 15-9 edge on Collins's man-up tally with 2:47 showing on the clock. Varello's man-up tally from Wandle with 2:03 left started a three-goal run by FSC, who picked up goals from senior Johnny McMahon (Albertson, N.Y.) and Lyons to account for the final score.
Special teams played a factor for both sides on the evening, with FSC converting all four of its man-up advantages and USMMA going 5-for-7 in its opportunities. The hosts held edges in shots (49-37, including 18-12 in the fourth) and ground balls (36-29), while committing three less turnovers (20-17) than the visitors.
Head coach Sean Chamberlain's Farmingdale State side now has a week to prepare for its next Skyline contest on Wednesday, April 20, when the Rams welcome Maritime College for a 4 p.m. start in a rematch of the 2021 Skyline Conference championship final.