Sports
Hamilton took down non-conference opponent St. John Fisher 8-6; Photo: Julian Perricone '20
Men’s lacrosse winless over Spring Break following impressive comeback over Colby
By Robert Berk ’20
March 30, 2017
Tags sports
While most Hamilton students went home and relaxed over spring break, the Men’s lacrosse team was busy with five games. Unfortunately, the Continentals lost all five, but the team is working hard and continuing to improve.
As classes finished up on Friday afternoon and break began, the team went to Wesleyan University. The Cardinals handed the Continentals their first loss of the season, winning by a score of 12-8. Statistically, the game was very even. Hamilton outshot Wesleyan 36 to 27, but lost the ground balls 36-27. Both teams had 17 turnovers. The Continentals won one more faceoff. Wesleyan went on two major runs. They scored three straight to end the first quarter up 4-1 and finished the game on a 5-2 run after their lead was trimmed to one goal. First year Chris Conley led the team in scoring with four goals. Goalie John Schisler ’17 helped to keep the game close by saving eight shots. Following this game the team traveled down to Florida.
The Continentals played two games in Davenport, Florida. The first was against Keene State College. The Owls came out on fire and scored the first five goals of the game. Trip Connors ’17 had a great game. He won 17 of 25 face-offs and grabbed 11 ground balls for the Continentals. Nate Weinrauch ’17 led the offensive attack: he scored two goals and registered an assist. Jack Gaul ’18 also had two goals, while Clay McCollum ’19 contributed with a goal and an assist. However, this was not enough to dig the Continentals out of the early hole. While Hamilton fought to keep the score close, they lost 14-7.
Hamilton’s second game in Florida was a NESCAC battle against 19th-ranked Bowdoin College. The Polar Bears were able to control the ball for a majority of the game, winning 22 out of 29 face-offs and picking up 42 ground balls compared to 26 for the Continentals. However, Hamilton’s ball pressure was superb, as they were able to force 21 turnovers. Conley ’20 and Henry Hill ’19 were the go-to guys on offense, each contributing two goals and an assist. The three other goals came from McCollum ’19, Owen McCarthy ’20, and J.D. Brachman ’17. Jack Warren ’19 secured five ground balls and Zach Kleinbaum ’19 grabbed four. The Continentals got great play out of their goalies. Schisler ’17 made seven saves in the first three plus quarters. Noah Weissmann ’18 stopped six shots in his quarter and a half of action. The Polar Bears were comfortably up 9-3 at the half, but put the game out of reach in the third. They scored seven goals and only allowed one en route to a 17-7 victory. Hamilton’s men’s lacrosse team had two more games back on campus over break.
At the start the second week of break, the Continentals hosted Nazareth College. Hamilton jumped out to a three-goal lead halfway through the first quarter; however, the Golden Flyers defense clamped down and only allowed two goals the rest of the game. Nazareth scored three goals in the last 41 seconds of the first quarter to tie the game. They used this momentum to absolutely dominate the second quarter, scoring seven goals and taking a 10-4 lead to the half. The second half was significantly lower scoring, and the Continentals lost by a final score of 15-5. Nazareth was able to control possession by winning 10 more face-offs than Hamilton; however, Hamilton was able to take 40 shots.
The Continentals second game of the week was a NESCAC game; this past Saturday, they hosted 10th-ranked Amherst College. Amherst boasts a very potent offense and entered the game averaging over 13 goals per game. Amherst scored at least three goals in every quarter and totaled 17 in the game. They captured the momentum by scoring two goals in the game’s opening minutes. Amherst won 23 of 29 face-offs and won 21 more ground balls than the Continentals. Hamilton’s offense was fierce: they took 48 shots and six players scored at least one goal. Henry Hill ’19 led the way, scoring a career-high three goals. McCollum ’19 added in two goals and one assist, and Nate Weinrauch ’17 had two assists. Hamilton’s goalies played well, combining for 17 saves. Weissmann ’18 made nine saves in the first half and Schisler had eight in the second. This game wrapped up an intense “break” for the team.
On Tuesday, the Continentals hosted St. John Fisher. The game was tied 3-3 at the half, but the Continentals used a 4-2 third quarter to grab control of the game. They won by a final score 8-6. McCollum had a hat trick and also contributed one assist, and Brock Bowers ’20 scored two goals. The Continentals won 12 of 16 face-offs, which was essential in protecting their lead.
Head Coach Scott Barnard said that the team enjoyed their break and were happy to avoid the snowstorm. He went on to say that the team is working “to improve on the defensive end of the field while finishing more of our opportunities on the offensive side of the ball.”
This Saturday, Hamilton will travel to face sixth-ranked Bates College. The Continentals will not have any home games until the second week of April. The team will travel to Vermont to take on an evenly-matched Middlebury team before taking on the undefeated Tufts Jumbos. After just four NESCAC games, the Continentals are tied for the final conference playoff spot.