Underclassmen Lead Men's Lacrosse Past Monmouth, 16-7

Saturday, March 9

West Long Branch, NJ

11 AM

University of Delaware

3-2, 1-0CAA

Monmouth

3-3, 0-1CAA

Delaware

Monmouth

Underclassmen Lead Men's Lacrosse Past Monmouth, 16-7

3/9/2024 4:04:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Freshman John McCurry and sophomore Brendan Powers combined for eight goals to lead the University of Delaware men's lacrosse team to a 16-7 win over Monmouth Saturday afternoon, ending the Blue Hens' two-game losing skid to improve to 3-2 and 1-0 in CAA action as the Hawks fell to 3-3 and 0-1.

HENS HIGHLIGHTS

McCurry's five goals led all scorers on the afternoon and added three ground balls to his ledger.
Brendan Powers recorded his first-career hat trick.
Mike Robinson and JP Ward each tallied two goals and extended their points streaks to 18 and 42 games, respectively.
Cam Acchione tallied three points on one goal and two assists while his twin brother Matt Acchione recorded four points with three assists and one goal.
Sophomore Hank D'Ambrogi and freshman Tyler Owings each recorded a goal as Owings extended his goal scoring streak to three straight games.
At the X, OJ Morris won his first 15 straight faceoffs, ending the day 17-for-21 overall.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Saturday's contest was scoreless through the first 5:30, but Monmouth drew first blood as the Hawks' Luke Cole found the back of the Delaware net to open the morning's scoring. Monmouth held the Blue Hens off the board for much of the first quarter until Brendan Powers knotted the game at 1-1 on an assist from Cam Acchione with 3:50 to play. The two squads traded blows to end the quarter as D'Ambrogi tied the game at two apiece with just under a minute left and the first 15:00 ended at 2-2.
In the second, McCurry scored his first goal of the day to give UD its first lead. Monmouth responded with another goal from Cole, but McCurry's second straight goal put the Hens on top for good. After going ahead 4-3 with 7:58 left in the half, the Hens netted four goals and despite two more finding the back of the Delaware net, the Blue & Gold took an 8-5 lead into the break.
What began as a defensive battle quickly turned into an offensive onslaught from the Blue Hens as UD found the back of the Monmouth goal four more times. At the 8:18 mark, Robinson netted his first of the afternoon on an assist from Ward, to extend Ward's points streak. Senior goalkeeper Kevin Ellington held the Hawks off the board in the third as UD took a 12-6 lead into the final quarter.
In the fourth, Delaware continued to pepper the Monmouth goal, scoring four more times to end the day. McCurry answered at the 11:30 mark after the Hawks scored their seventh of the game. With 9:16 left in regulation, Ward scored his first of the game to double the Delaware lead. With their fifth and second goals, respectively, McCurry and Ward put the game on ice in the fourth.

GAME NOTES

McCurry became the first Delaware freshman with five goals in a game since Cam Acchione scored five against Towson in 2021.
Tate Wasson finished with a season-high three caused turnovers.
Saturday's contest was Delaware's best faceoff percentage of the year at .777 (21-for-27).
Morris finished the day with a career-high 12 ground balls.
The Hens were almost perfect at the power play, converting four of five man-up opportunities, their most of the season.

UP NEXT
Delaware remains on the road as the Blue Hens travel to Chantilly, Va. for a neutral site game with No. 9 Syracuse for College Lacrosse Live. Game time is set for 2 p.m.

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