Victory! Wagner Snaps 48-Game Losing Streak
from press release
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Senior attack Evan Shull (Port Jefferson
Station, NY/ Comsewogur) fired home four goals, while junior
midfielder Pete Blackmer (Marcellus, NY/ Marcellus) and freshman
midfielder John Hird (Phoenixville, PA/ Shipley School) added two
goals apiece as the Wagner College men's lacrosse team ended a
48-game losing streak with a 12-7 victory over Presbyterian.
For the Seahawks, who are now 1-3 on the season, it marks their
first victory since an 11-6 win over Robert Morris on May 1,
2005.
Head Coach Jason Rife, who took over the program prior to last
season, was beaming with pride afterwards.
"All of the credit goes to the guys in the rectangle," said Rife
who has know his share of success as a player at the University of
Massachusetts and, most recently, as an assistant at Bryant
University. "This is the deserved result of a hard work and
dedication. Presbyterian is a team that almost beat Air Force, lost
to VMI by only a 9-7 score. This is a heck of a win for our guys
and they deserve all the credit.
"Now, we go back to work," he added. "My job is to continue to
instill them whatever knowledge and desire I can."
Wagner jumped out to a 4-0 lead on goals by Blakmer and Hird
followed by two straight Shull tallies. Presbyterian responded with
four unanswered goals of its own to forge a 4-4 tie at halftime.
Freshman attack Mike Hurley gave the Seahawks the lead for good off
an assist by senior midfielder Brian Poissant (Manlius, NY/
Fayetteville-Manlius) just 13 seconds into the second half. Less
than two minutes later, Shull's third goal of the game made it a
6-4 game. The Blue Hose struck next to draw to within 6-5 but this
was as close as Presbyterian would get as Shull responded again.
His his fourth goal of the game, off another Poissant assist, gave
the Seahawks a two-goal cushion and Wagner scored five of the next
six goals to win going away.
Wagner out-shot Presbyterian 37-22 , led in ground balls 44-34 and
won an overwhelming 16-of22 face-offs. Drake Peterson and Andrews
Athens paced the Blue Hose in scoring with two goals apiece while
Jon Athens had eight saves in goal.
Freshman goalie Peter Rubin (East Rockaway, NY/ East Rockaway)
saved six shots for the Seahawks who are next in action on Sunday.
March 8 when they play host to Bellarmine.
