DANVILLE, Va. – The Marietta College men's lacrosse team finished a perfect 2-0 in Spring Break games as they defeated Averett University, 17-2, on Saturday (Mar. 8) afternoon.  With the win the Pioneers improve to 5-1 overall and with the loss the Cougars fall to 2-6.  
 
"This was a great way to wrap up our NC/VA trip," said Marietta head coach Ben Suchomma. "We played well and got a ton on contributions this afternoon.  Excited to learn from this and keep improving this season."
 
Marietta wasted little time getting on the board as Aiden Evans (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) scored just a minute into the contest, but that would be the only tally of the period.  The Pioneers sent 12 total shots in the first period but could only manage the one score.  The Cougars sent eight shots on goal but Pioneer goalkeeper James Cipollone (Forest Hill, Md./Calvert Hall) saved them all, giving Marietta the 1-0 lead heading into the second quarter.  

Just like the first period, Marietta scored quick as Barrett Lindell (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont) broke away and deposited the ball in the net.  It took another four minutes to pass by before the next score but Averett finally got on the board with a goal from Emmitt Wood.  A minute later, the Cougars actually tied the game at two as Tigran Ceesay scored.  The Pioneers would go on to shut the Cougars down for the remainder of the period and even jumped back into the lead as Chase Franklin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) scored at the 5:32 mark and Nate Neal (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) added a score two minutes later.  The Pioneers would move into the intermission with a 4-2 lead.
 
The Pioneers took firm control in the matchup as they blitzed the Cougars with seven scores in the third period.  Neal started the rally with a score two minutes in.  Franklin and Danner Dorothy (West Stockholm, N.Y./Potsdam Central) provided the offense for the rest of the third as they both scored a trio of goals.  What was once a close game turned into an 11-2 Pioneers advantage going into the final quarter.  Marietta also shut out the Cougars in the fourth as they tacked on six more scores and would collect the 17-2 victory.  
 
Cipollone earned the decision as he faced a total of 28 shots, 17 of which were on goal, and made 15 saves. Ben Millard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) worked the final three minutes and collected a pair of saves

Dorothy led the scoring for the Pioneers as he scored five goals and assisted on one other goal.  Franklin and Neal provided four goals apiece.  The Pioneers won 17-of-23 faceoffs, with Jason Mach (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) leading the way winning 12. Bret Dickerson (Troy, Mich./Troy) won all five of his faceoffs. Caden Alkire (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) picked up 10 groundballs and caused two turnovers.  Lindell led with three caused turnovers.
 
Marietta will return to the field Saturday (Mar. 15) when they travel to play Wittenberg University, with the game scheduled to begin at 1p.m.

Fans can follow all of 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 X and Instagram.