GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Florida Southern College men's lacrosse team (1-5) secured a decisive 20-7 victory over Adams State University (0-4) on Tuesday at CHUF Stadium in Grand Junction, Colo. The Moccasins dominated from the start, scoring eight goals in the first quarter and winning 29 of 31 faceoffs overall. Adams State managed two extra-man goals in the third quarter but was unable to close the gap.
Florida Southern began the game with strong momentum as freshman
Elijah Terry scored the first goal at 14:05. Following a successful faceoff by senior
Jacob Czyz, who set a new single game Florida Southern record with 20 ground balls, and ground ball recovery by senior
Jack Epley. Freshman
Angus Walko extended the lead with two goals, assisted by junior
Charlie Fisher and freshman
Brady Schnurr, bringing the score to 3-0.
The visiting team continued its offensive surge with junior
Maddux Walton scoring another goal, assisted by Schnurr, increasing the lead to 4-0. Walko added his third goal of the quarter, assisted again by Fisher, pushing the score to 5-0.
Senior
John Dowling and Czyz each contributed with goals, with Dowling's score assisted by sophomore
Luke Hawrish-Blight, expanding the advantage to 7-0. Sophomore
Noah Courter concluded the quarter with a goal at 00:18, solidifying Florida Southern's dominant 8-0 lead at the end of the first.
Walton's offensive prowess was the highlight of the second quarter for the Moccasins. Walton scored three goals, with assists from senior
Caiden Wiech and Walko, bolstering the team's lead. Florida Southern's control at faceoffs, with Czyz consistently securing possession, contributed to maintaining momentum.
Adams State managed to get on the scoreboard late in the quarter with goals from Cohen Taylor and Cole Murri. Despite this, Florida Southern maintained its advantage, closing the quarter with a lead of 11-2.
Florida Southern began the third quarter with a strong offensive push, highlighted by Walko's goal just over a minute into the frame, assisted by Fisher. The team maintained momentum with Czyz consistently winning faceoffs, allowing Florida Southern to control possession. Schnurr added another goal, extending the team's lead.
Midway through the quarter, Walko notched two more goals, while Walton and Wiech each contributed a goal, further widening the gap. Walko's 12 shots on goal tied a single game program record, demonstrating his relentless pursuit of the net. Despite Adams State's efforts, including a man-up goal by Danny Joy, Florida Southern's offense remained effective.
As the quarter closed, Florida Southern remained in control, despite a late man-up goal by Adams State's Malik Maxwell. The quarter ended with Florida Southern leading 17-4, having scored six goals in the frame.
The Moccasins maintained their competitive edge in the fourth quarter, beginning with Czyz winning the faceoff, which set an early tone. Despite a turnover, Florida Southern's defense, led by senior
Jack Losey's caused turnover, disrupted Adams State's momentum. Senior
Chris Panetta capitalized with a goal at 7:06, assisted by freshman
Brody Ritter, leveling the scoring in the quarter.
After an Adams State goal briefly shifted momentum, Florida Southern responded decisively. Panetta added another goal at 2:36, followed by Ritter's goal, assisted by freshman
Ryan Filippi, at 2:08. These contributions secured a solid lead for Florida Southern.
In the closing minutes, Adams State found the net once more, but Florida Southern remained in control, successfully executing clears and maintaining possession. The quarter ended with Florida Southern leading 20-7, reflecting a consistent performance throughout the match.
Walton scored five goals, including a man-up tally, on seven shots on goal, leading the offensive charge. Walko added six goals and an assist, firing 18 shots with 12 on target, demonstrating his ability to create scoring opportunities. Czyz contributed significantly at face-offs, winning 23 of 24 attempts, which helped control possession. Courter netted a goal, which proved to be the game-winner, securing the victory.
Jamisen Blackwell delivered a strong defensive performance for Adams State, recording 15 saves in the match, showcasing his ability to withstand offensive pressure. On the offensive end, Maxwell led the team with two goals, one of which was a man-up conversion, contributing significantly to the scoring efforts. Additionally, Joy provided a well-rounded performance by scoring one goal and assisting another, also netting a power-play goal. Alex Kan and Murri each added a goal, with Kan converting on his only shot and Murri scoring from two shots on goal, further boosting the team's offensive output.
In their next game, the Mocs will face Colorado Mesa on Thursday, March 5. The game is set for 9 p.m. at Community Hospital Unity Field in Grand Junction, Colorado.
