March 25, 2008

Final Stats

Loudonville, N.Y. - MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Matt Girsh tallied a season-high five goals, single-handedly outscoring St. John's as the Saints stormed past their ECAC foe 12-3 this afternoon at DaSilva Memorial Field in Queens, N.Y. Junior midfielder Mike Lashomb added a hat trick as the surging Saints won their third straight game.

Sophomore midfielder Bryan Hale opened the scoring for the Saints (6-2) just 1:38 seconds into the game with his fourth goal of the season. Siena would never look back as they scored the first four goals of the game and led wire to wire.

Girsh scored two of his season-high five goals in the second period as the Green and Gold built a sizeable 8-2 advantage heading into intermission.

Siena continued to pepper the Red Storm (0-7) net in the third, adding four more goals to extend their commanding lead to 12-2. Girsh recorded a hat trick in the period alone, while Lashomb accounted for the other goal completing his hat trick.

Other Siena scorers included Kenny Mazzone, Tim Rau and Ryan Duggan who was named MAAC Player of the Week earlier in the day. Dom DeNapoli, Tom Michaelsen and Drew Schanen recorded the Saint John's scores.

Scott Montgomery and Kyle Vercruysse aided the Saints defensive efforts, scooping seven and five ground balls respectively. Montgomery also won 10-of-18 face-off attempts. Sophomore goalie Brent Herbst, named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this year earlier today, added 12 more saves while surrendering just three goals.

The Green and Gold return to action for a highly anticipated conference showdown on Saturday at Siena Field against defending MAAC Tournament Champion Providence. The Saints were regular season champions a year ago, but their only regular season loss came at the hands of the Friars before Providence upset the Saints in the conference tournament semifinals one week later en route to their tournament championship victory. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. in Loudonville.