PITTSBURGH -- A 12-goal first quarter jump-started the Presidents' offense en route to a 25-2 nonconference win at La Roche.
With the win, the Washington & Jefferson men's lacrosse team picks up its first victory of the 2018 campaign and improves to 1-3. La Roche drops to 0-3. The 25 goals matched the program's record for single-game tallies, which was established in last year's opener, a 25-1 win at Alexandre Stadium versus La Roche.
The score after one period was 12-1 and the lead was built to 18-2 by halftime. Another four goals for the visitors in the third quarter stretched the lead to 22-2 and three scores in the fourth period made the final 25-2.
Patrick Brunner (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) led the Presidents with seven goals on the day (plus an assist), the most in a single game for W&J since Zach Fredericks posted seven against Bethany on April 23, 2016. Brunner was efficient as well, needing just nine shots to record his seven goals.
Ben Ward (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) matched Brunner's eight points by posting four goals and four assists, his 10th career hat trick.
Pat Heidecker (Gettysburg, Gettysburg Area) and
Brendan Tribeck (Enola, Pa./Trinity) both registered three goals and three assists, with Heidecker notching his second hat trick as a President and Tribeck snagging his first.
In total, 17 Presidents recorded at least one point on the afternoon, with nine tallying multiple points.
Michael Aaron Pray III (Gaithersburg, Md./Maret School (D.C.)) went 19-for-25 on face-offs, the most in a single game since Chase Bennett finished 20-for-31 against Thiel on April 30, 2014. Pray and
Joseph Tritschler (New Kensington, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) each snagged a match-high nine ground balls, while
Dylan Shepherd (Eagle, Idaho/Eagle) picked up five and Ward, Heidecker and
Troy Palmer (Charleston, W.Va./Capital) each earned four.
Lorenzo Ruscitto (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led all players with four caused turnovers, while Tritschler and Heidecker each forced three.
W&J rang up 40 shots to just 10 for La Roche, with 31-5 being the final tally in shots on goal. The Presidents were also a perfect 15-for-15 on clear attempts, while holding the Redhawks to 50 percent at 12-of-24.
Noah Cohen (Hewlett, N.Y./George W. Hewlett) improved to 1-3 on the season in goal by making three saves.
W&J will travel to former Landmark Conference foe Susquehanna for a nonconference 6 p.m. match on Friday, March 2.
