March 28, 2009

Box Score in PDF Format

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's lacrosse team (4-4, 3-0) defeated Canisius College (0-6, 0-3) by a score of 5-4 on Saturday, March 28 at the Friar Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. The win was PC's fourth-straight and it marks the second-consecutive season in which the team has started 3-0 in MAAC play.

Senior goaltender Robert Bryan (Apex, N.C.) played an excellent game for the Friars, tying a personal best with 16 saves and allowing only four goals for a .800 save percentage. Bryan had three key saves in the final quarter to secure the win for Providence.

Canisius opened the scoring with a goal by Simon Giourmetakis to take a 1-0 lead at the 11:46 mark of the first quarter. Senior Bobby Labadini (Westford, Mass.) responded with an unassisted goal for the Friars, and junior Colin Tigh (Garden City, N.Y.) found a streaking Danny Ryan (Chatham, N.J.) with three seconds remaining in the opening quarter to give the Friars a 2-1 advantage heading into the second.

Preseason MAAC Player of the Year Adam Jones caught fire in the second quarter for Canisius, posting two goals in the first seven minutes of the quarter to put the Golden Griffins ahead, 3-2, with 8:16 to play in the first half.

Providence answered with 2:46 to play in the half, as freshman Jake Nolan (Westport, Conn.) found the back of the net off an assist by Ryan to knot the score at three heading into halftime.

Junior Jackson Fallon (Arlington, Mass.) scored an unassisted goal with 8:46 to go in the third quarter to put the Friars back up, 4-3. Neither team could score for the remainder of the third, which featured six turnovers by both teams.

The Friars took a two-goal advantage early in the fourth on an unassisted score by freshman Chris Mahoney (Centerport, N.Y.). Canisius responded with a man-up goal by Mike Benzinger to pull the Golden Griffins back within one at 5-4 with 6:02 to go in the game.

Canisius had a final chance to tie the score with less than a minute remaining in the game, but graduate student Colin Reposa (East Falmouth, Mass.) forced a key turnover and Providence regained possession to earn the win.

Ryan paced the Friars with two points on a goal and an assist. Jones posted three points on two goals and an assist for Canisius.

Canisius goaltender Bryan Jack allowed five goals and made five saves in 60:00 minutes of action.

After today's matchup, Providence remains at home for a 2:00 p.m. contest with MAAC foe Saint Joseph's on Saturday, April 4 at the Friar Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. Admission is free.