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FSC Snaps Loosing Streak With Season High 17 Goals

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in .
LAKELAND – Florida Southern put the brakes on its three game losing streak here Saturday afternoon as they posted a 17-12 victory over the University of Indianapolis in non-conference action on a rain-soaked field at Bryant Stadium. The start of Saturday’s game was delayed nearly an hour due to two 30-minute lightning delays during warm-ups. Saturday’s game was the culmination of the Mocs fundraising effort for the Vs. Cancer Foundation to Cure Kids’ Cancer. The Mocs once again this season partnered with the vs. Cancer Foundation and this year raised $6,780. Last season, the team raised a little over $6,500. In Saturday’s game, UIndy led 3-1 after the first quarter, before the Moccasins rallied to score five goals in the second quarter to take a 6-5 lead at the half. The Mocs offense would explode for 11 goals in the second half, including six goals in the fourth quarter to post the come-from-behind victory. Six of those season high 17 goals were scored by junior attacker Tyler Kopen (Wynnewood, Fla.), while sophomore midfielder Lucas Claude (Calgary, Alberta) added three goals and freshman midfielder Joseph Biondi, Jr. (Orange, Conn.) had two goals, was 21-for-32 on face-offs and recorded 12 ground balls in the win. The 21 face-off wins is tied for third-most in school history, while the 12 ground balls is tied for second-most in a game in school history. Kopen and Claude combined for 11 points, while Gray added four points as he had four assists. Freshman Nick Gutmann (Long Island, N.Y.) got the scoring started for the Mocs as he scored an unassisted goal just two minutes into the contest to tie things up a 1-all. The Greyhounds, though, would score the next three goals, including opening the second quarter with a man-down goal just 13 seconds into the period to take a 4-1 lead. The Mocs would stop UIndy’s run with an unassisted goal by freshman attacker Kyle Silverstein (Smithtown, N.Y.) with 11:27 left in the quarter to pull FSC within two at 4-2. After Tyler Johnson scored a goal nearly a minute after Silverstein’s goal to give UIndy a 5-2 lead, the Mocs would close the second quarter by scoring four straight goals, including two from Kopen, in a span of three minutes to take a 6-5 lead. Claude and senior midfielder Tyler Novak (Holbrook, N.Y.) scored the Mocs other two goals. The third quarter saw both teams combine for a total of eight goals, including five by the Mocs to push its lead to 11-8 heading into the final period. In the third quarter, Biondi, Jr., got the scoring started just six seconds into the period. UIndy would answer with back-to-back goals from Adam Dobis and and James Smith to the game at 7. FSC would answer the ‘Hounds two goals by scoring three consecutive times in a span of three minutes to take a 10-7, including capping the flurry with a goal by Kopen off a pass from Claude, who finished the game with six points. Parker Kump scored a man-up goal for UIndy with 4:34 left in the period to drop the Mocs lead to 10-8, but Biondi, Jr., once again would find the net as he scored his second unassisted goal of the game with 4:21 left in the quarter to give FSC an 11-8 advantage. Much like the third quarter, the fourth quarter was another wide open affair as the two teams combined to score 10 goals in the period, including six by the Mocs. Kopen would get the scoring started in the final quarter as he scored on a man-up goal just two minutes into the period to give FSC a 12-8 lead. After the ‘Hounds, who are playing their inaugural season of men’s lacrosse in 2016, scored three consecutive goals to pull within 12-11, the Mocs would put the game out of reach by scoring five straight goals in a span of nearly six-plus minutes to take a 17-11 lead. During the five-goal run, Claude and Kopen combined for two goals apiece, while junior attacker Cody Dyer (Slingerlands, N.Y.) scored the other goal. The Greyhounds (3-3) completed the game’s scoring on a goal with eight seconds left by Matthew Johnston. In the win, the Mocs outshot the Greyhounds, 46-42 and also had 30 shots on goal to 21 by UIndy. FSC also held a 39-31 edge in ground balls in the win. Kopen had 14 shots, including nine shots on goal, while sophomore midfielder Cody Gray (Riverview, Fla.) had eight shots and four shots on goal. Junior Matt Lalli (New Milford, Conn.) earned the win between the pipes as he improved 6-5 on the season as he had eight saves, allowed eight goals, had three ground balls and caused two turnovers. Junior Cody Christie (Vernon Hills, Ill.) and sophomore Michael Greco (Fort Salonga, N.Y.) played a combined 68 seconds in goal in the victory. Kump and Shawn Kimble each had three goals for the Greyhounds. In addition, those two players combined for a total of 21 shots. Jarod Kimble played all 60 minutes in goal for UIndy as he recorded 13 saves, but allowed 17 goals. FSC will return to action on Tuesday, March 22 as they host Adams State in a 4 p.m. game at Bryant Stadium.