STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – The Marietta College men's lacrosse team earned its first road win of the season, as they were victorious Wednesday (March 27) over Franciscan University, 18-6. With the win the Pioneers improve to 4-4 overall and with the loss the Barons fall to 0-8 on the season.
Franciscan opened the first quarter with back to back goals, and grabbed 2-0 lead five minutes into the game. A minute later, Marietta scored its first goal when
Connor Ficke (Saint Leonard, Md./Calvert) scored a man up goal off a feed from
Quinn Rundgren (Angier, N.C./Fuquay Varina). The Pioneers tied the game at 2-2 when Rundgren found the back of the net off an assist from
Seth Hower (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley).
John Sanford (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) put Marietta on top 4-2 with back to back goals. The goals were assisted by
Jackson McGill (New Market, Md./Oakdale) and Ficke, and the Pioneers entered the second quarter ahead, 4-2.
The second quarter was dominated by Marietta, as they scored six unanswered goals and took a 10-2 advantage into the intermission. The Pioneers scored less than a minute into the second quarter when Ficke scored off a feed from McGill to put Marietta on top 3-2. Three minutes later, Ficke scored his third goal of the game off an assist from
Jayson White (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico). After five minutes off scoreless play, White gave Marietta a 7-2 edge when he found the back of the net.
Chad Stowell (Watertown, Minn./Delano) kept the Pioneers run going when scored off an assist from Ficke.
Justin Blasko (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) and
Daniel Blaine (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) scored the final two goals of the half, and provided Marietta a 10-2 advantage.
The Pioneers defense held the Barons scoreless for 25 minutes of play during the first half, and
Ryan McLane (Avon, Ohio/Avon) made five first half saves.
Franciscan scored the opening goal of the third quarter, but Marietta quickly responded when Ficke scored a man down goal, to make the score 11-3 two minutes into the third quarter. The Pioneers closed the third quarter with four consecutive goals, and took a 15-3 lead into the fourth quarter. The Marietta goals were scored by Stowell, White, and Blasko who scored a pair of goals.
The Pioneers tacked on three goals to open the fourth quarter as Stowell scored two and Ficke scored the third, to put Marietta up 18-3, with five minutes to play in game. Franciscan closed out the fourth quarter with three straight goals, but the Pioneers won 18-6.
Marietta was led by Ficke as he had five goals, picked up four ground balls and caused two turnovers. Stowell added four goals, an assist, three ground balls, and caused three turnovers. Blasko scored three goals, and Sanford and White each added two goals for the Pioneers. Blaine lead the defense as he tied the team lead in caused turnovers with three, picked up six ground balls, and scored a goal.
Blake Chisholm (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan), and
Jacob Morlando (White Bear Lake, Minn./Stillwater) each caused three turnovers in the game for Marietta.
McLane played the entire game in goal, he faced 25 shots, 16 of which were on goal, and made 10 saves for the Pioneers.
Marietta will be back in action Saturday (March 30) when they travel to take on Baldwin Wallace University, with the game scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
