Skip to main content

Swanson Sets Scoring Record, No 16 PBA Defeats Stonehill, Columbus

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in , , .
Above – Junior midfielder Greg Swanson (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton HS) scored 19 points in two games. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. –– No. 16 Palm Beach Atlantic returned home for two wins over the extended weekend following a three-game Tennessee road trip. On Friday, the Sailfish defeated Stonehill College (PCLL) 17-3 before getting back at it on Monday night, topping Columbus State, 17-7. The weekend was marked by by nineteen points in two games by junior midfielder Greg Swanson (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton HS). Swanson’s two goals and eight assists against Stonehill gave him 188 career points, tied for the all-time record in career scoring set by Joe Ciringione (2011-2013). Against Columbus State, the record-setting marker came just 1:56 into the game as Swanson found Colt Burton (Denver, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) for PBA’s second goal of the game. He finished the night with one goal and eight assists, earning special game ball honors and setting a new all-time mark with 197 career points. PALM BEACH ATLANTIC 17, STONEHILL 3 The Sailfish improved to 2-2 in out-of-conference play, despite a slow start and a 2-0 lead after the first quarter on goals by Payne McIntosh (West Palm Beach, Fla./Denison Univ.). Palm Beach Atlantic exploded offensively in the second, racing out to an 11-1 lead going into halftime. Graduate transfer Matt Dillion (Jupiter, Fla./Univ. of Florida) had five of his six points in the second stanza, en route to earning the night’s game ball. In the postgame huddle, he gave the ball to defenseman Joe Giuffrida (Boca Raton, Fla./Pope John Paul II HS), who led the PBA defense. The second half saw a more methodical pace, as the ‘Fish nurtured a lead that grew as big as fifteen goals. Freshman Stephen Lawlor (St. Augustine, Fla./St. Augustine HS) netted his first goal of the season at 8:41 of the fourth quarter, scoring an on-the-run highlight reel goal. Freshman Jonathan Cassario (Melbourne, Fla./Viera HS) also saw the box score for the first time in his career, assisting Dan Wilkerson with 6:02 remaining. Twelve Sailfish registered points in the win. PBA’s Scotty Brown (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) was 75% (18-for-24) from the faceoff dot, while the tandem pair of Steven Grove (.888) and Drake Kessell (.714) combined for thirteen saves in net. PALM BEACH ATLANTIC 17, COLUMBUS STATE 7 Palm Beach Atlantic wasted no time against the visiting Cougars, scoring just eleven seconds into the game (Camden Baggs, unassisted). It was a solid foundation for the game as the Sailfish grabbed a 4-2 lead after one and an 11-3 lead at halftime. Much of the success came via the PBA extra-man unit, who scored five man-up goals on the night. After allowing the first two goals of the third quarter, Palm Beach Atlantic went on a five goal run, holding Columbus State scoreless for 17:48 while building a 16-5 lead. Despite missing LSM Andrew Tibbles (Chanhassen, Minn./Oxbridge (Fla.) Academy) and defenseman Anthony Curra (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens), the energized Sailfish defense stood tall as Steven Grove finished with thirteen saves. Graduate transfer Mike Mastracchio (Jupiter, Fla./St. Leo Univ.) finished with four goals and four assists, second only to Swanson’s nine points. Christian Corbin (three goals, one assist), Camden Baggs (three goals), Colt Burton (two goals), and Matt Dillon (two goals) all registered multiple points in the game. Palm Beach Atlantic’s thirteen turnovers against Columbus State are a season-low. WHAT’S ON TAP After a stretch of five games in nine days, Palm Beach Atlantic will rest up before their next game on Wed., March 30 against No. 17 Lindenwood University–Belleville. The game will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Rinker Athletic Campus.

Sponsored