WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. –– For the first time in program history, Palm Beach Atlantic defeated an opponent on home turf, starting with a 17-6 win over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Saturday night. It was a momentous occasion, with several hundred fans showing their support and opening the Rinker Athletic Campus in style. Sophomore midfielder Greg Swanson (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton) led the Sailfish with three goals and four assists.
Boca High’s Greg Swanson was player of the game with 7 points
Attackman Phil Ventresca (Wilmington, Del./Jacksonville Univ.) scored the first goal in Rinker Athletic Campus history, netting an assisted goal from Swanson at 12:17 of the first quarter. The RAC, PBA’s multi-million dollar athletics facility, will host all future men’s and women’s lacrosse events for the ‘Fish.
Following a slow start, where PBA held a 4-3 lead at halftime, the Sailfish turned up the offense. It started on an unassisted goal at 14:01 of the third quarter by Joey Bauer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Florida State Univ.). That was the first of thirteen second half goals, including a fourth quarter where the ‘Fish outscored Embry-Riddle 9-1.
Sophomore goalie Drake Kessell (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) made thirteen saves.
STRONG DEFENSE
Backstopped by Kessell, the Sailfish defense held Embry-Riddle to six goals. It’s the lowest goals-allowed for PBA in over a year (19-3 vs. Florida Atlantic) and only the second time since the since the end of the 2012 season (W, 13-4 vs. #9 Sam Houston State). The close defense pairing of senior Anthony Curra (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens), freshman Matt Morris (West Palm Beach, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens), and sophomore Cameron Drees (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake) proved stout throughout.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Palm Beach Atlantic’s extra-man unit finished 4-for-8 on the night, including a 75% scoring rate in the second half. PBA’s man-down defense killed four of five penalties and also registered one man down goal (Bauer unassisted).
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Sophomore Greg Swanson started the 2015 season with a bang, scoring seven points (three goals, four assists) in the win. He also contributed two ground balls.
UNSUNG HERO OF THE GAME
Freshman Scotty Brown (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) controlled possession for PBA, finishing 16-for-24 on faceoffs with ten ground balls. His abilities in the middle of the field are welcomed by a Sailfish team that used a faceoffs-by-committee approach last season.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday night’s 17-6 victory for Palm Beach Atlantic was their first win in recent memory against the Eagles. In fact, PBA and Embry-Riddle last played each other in April 2007 for the FLL Championship.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Palm Beach Atlantic continues their early season schedule on Wednesday night (7:00 p.m.) at the Rinker Athletic Campus against Florida Atlantic University. This game is a non-divisional game; the game that will count toward the season standings will be played in April at FAU. Follow the ‘Fish on Twitter for in-game live updates and more (www.twitter.com/pbalacrosse).
