Providence alum Guy Bistrow 5G/1A/1GB,1CTO, Lake Mary alum Chase Strait 12 saves for Saint Leo. West Orange alum Mikey Berkman 3G/2A, Bishop Moore alum Jacob Herrick 2GBs, Oxbridge alum Sean Caracciolo 1G/1A for Rollins.

via the school press releases/websites

BOX SCORE

Men’s Lacrosse Conquers #5 Rollins, Punches Ticket to SSC Tournament

by George Hillen | Manager of Athletic Communications

SAINT LEO, Fla. – Behind a six-goal run in second half, the Saint Leo men’s lacrosse team registered a 12-9 victory against fifth-ranked Rollins in the regular season finale at home on Wednesday night and Lions punched their ticket to the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament.

Rollins jumped out to an early 3-1 at the end of the first quarter. Sophomore Matthew Cleary kickstarted the Lions will a goal off a dish from classmate Aidan Knoetgen followed by senior Guy Bistrow scoring off a pass from sophomore Greg Palmer to tie the game at 3-3 at the 12:51-mark of the second quarter. The Tars answered with a pair of goals to claim a 5-3 edge before Bistrow found the back of the net, assisted by Palmer. With 3:36 remaining in the second frame, Rollins tallied a goal and held a 6-4 lead at halftime.

The six-goal run for the Lions started in the third quarter as Bistrow scored in man-up opportunity followed by Palmer and Knoetgen each lacing a goal. Sophomore John Raucci continued the scoring frenzy with an unassisted goal before Bistrow and Palmer were able to score again as the Green and Gold led by a 10-6 margin with 8:43 left to play in the game.  The Tars trimmed their deficit to 10-8 after scoring consecutive goals, however, the Lions countered with goals from junior Xan Hayes and Bistrow, 12-8 and secured the victory with 58 seconds left on the clock. With less than a minute remaining in the game, Rollins scored to cut its deficit to 12-9.

Palmer recorded seven points with three goals and four assists while Bistrow posted five goals and one assist. Raucci tallied one goal and a pair of assists. Knoetgen finished the game with one goal and one assist. Additionally, Cleary and Hayes notched one goal each. Senior Michael Flores won 15-of-21 faceoffs and collected 10 groundballs. Knoetgen also grabbed four groundballs in the process. Sophomore James Davies recorded three groundballs and caused one turnover. In the net, senior Chase Strait posted 12 saves in the complete-game effort to earn the win.

Saint Leo returns to action on Saturday, April 20 as it travels to face Florida Southern in the first round of the SSC Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament at 12 p.m.

*****

No. 5 Tars Tripped Up at Saint Leo

by Michael Pierce

SAINT LEO, Florida (April 17, 2024) – The No. 5 Rollins men’s lacrosse team dropped a 12-9 decision at Saint Leo on Wednesday night. The Tars are now 11-3 overall, 5-2 in conference play, while the Lions improve to 9-5, 3-4 in SSC games.

Mikey Berkman led the Tars with three goals and two assists, while Grant Hansen added three goals and an assist. Jack Johnstone scored a goal, which gives him 149 career points, tying him with Greg Taicher (2016-19) for the program’s all-time scoring record. Shahé Katchadurian (10-3) took the loss, making 12 saves on 24 shots faced.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter

• Hansen opened the scoring 2:46 into the game to give the Tars the early lead.
• After a Saint Leo goal, Sean Caracciolo and Hansen each scored in the closing minutes of the quarter to put Rollins up 3-1.

Second Quarter

• The Lions scored two quick ones in the second to tie the game, but Berkman responded with back-to-back goals to give the Tars a 5-3 edge.
• Saint Leo got one back, but Hansen scored his third of the half to make it a 6-4 game at the half.

Third Quarter

• The Lions tallied three goals in the third while holding Rollins scoreless, giving the home side a 7-6 lead going to the fourth.

Fourth Quarter

• SLU maintained its momentum, scoring the first three markers of the fourth to extend its lead to 10-6.
• Berkman and Justin White scored goals 69 seconds apart to cut the deficit to 10-8 with 6:09 to play.
• Saint Leo was able to score two more goals in the final few minutes, and Rollins could only find one final tally from Johnstone in the last minute of play, giving the Lions a 12-9 win.

UP NEXT:
By virtue of their 5-2 conference record, the Tars have earned the No. 2 seed in the Sunshine State Conference Championship, and with it, a first-round bye. Rollins will host a semifinal game on Wednesday, April 24, against the winner of the Lynn-Florida Tech contest on Saturday, April 20.

Fans can follow the Tars all season long at RollinsSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest #TARnation news by following Rollins Sports on Facebook, X, and Instagram.