MONTCLAIR, N.J. (4/27/22) - Tommy Pellegrino totaled four points on three goals and one assist as the Kean University men's lacrosse team secured the third seed in the Colonial States Athletic Conference playoffs despite losing to Montclair State University in their regular season finale, 16-11 on Wednesday evening.
Christian Boyle and Tyler McCreery both notched six points apiece for the Red Hawks who improve to 10-4 overall and 4-1 in the CSAC.
Anthony Porter finished with three points on two goals and one assist.
Pellegrino scored and assisted on a goal in the opening quarter as the Cougars maintained a slim 4-3 lead. MSU dominated the second quarter with seven straight goals to propel them to a 10-3 lead late in the first half.
Joey McNulty stopped the Red Hawks scoring run with a goal at the 1:42 mark, but Kean still trailed 10-5 at halftime.
After Montclair opened the second half with back-to-back goals which pushed their lead to 12-5, the Cougars responded with goals from
Cormac McCabe,
Nick Thorne and
Brady Moore to cut the lead to 12-8.
Despite two fourth quarter goals from Pellegrino, Kean couldn't get any closer than a four goal deficit.
At faceoffs,
Christian Baucom,
Steven Thorne, and
Vinny Campbell went a combined 7-for-29. On the turf, Porter collected five groundballs, while Thorne and Campbell notched four apiece. On defense, Campbell notched three caused turnovers, while Porter,
Connor Batjer and
Kenny Yeager all posted two apiece.
In goal,
Thomas Francy made 16 saves in 60 minutes of work.
Head Coach
Shelley Sheiner and the Cougars will travel to Montclair, N.J. on Tuesday, May 3
rd for a CSAC semifinal matchup against the Red Hawks of Montclair State University.
