Holy Cross Ends 28-Game Skid Against Dartmouth
from press release
HANOVER, N.H. – Senior Chris Smirti (Cold
Spring Harbor, N.Y.) scored five goals and senior Edison Parzanese
(Edgartown, Mass.) recorded three goals and three assists for six
points as the Holy Cross men's lacrosse team defeated Dartmouth,
13-8, on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at Scully-Fahey
Field. This marks the first time in school history that the
Crusaders have defeated the Big Green in men's lacrosse as
Dartmouth won the previous 28 contests starting in 1960. This is
also Holy Cross’ second ever win over a team from the Ivy
League as the Crusaders had a 7-6 victory at Yale on Feb. 24, 2008.
With the win, the Crusaders improve to 1-4 overall, while the Big
Green fall to 1-1 overall.
“Huge win over an Ivy League team,” said Holy Cross
head coach Adam Pascal. “The team really worked hard and
earned this win. In the past we thought we deserved the game, today
the kids took the game. I am proud of this team and their effort.
We look forward to opening league play at home this weekend with
Colgate.”
Smirti continued his great success against the Big Green as he has
now posted 18 goals and two assists for 20 points in four career
games versus Dartmouth, including recording eight goals and two
assists at Dartmouth on March 25, 2008. His eight goals that
afternoon tied the school record and his 10 points tied the second
best performance at Holy Cross. Parzanese has now recorded at least
one point in 18 straight games and has 45 goals and 63 assists for
108 career points. Parzanese leads the team this season with eight
assists and 14 points, while Smirti ranks first with 11 goals.
Senior goalie Connor Sweeney (South Salem, N.Y.) was outstanding
in net has he made 11 saves to earn his first collegiate victory.
Sophomore Colin McGeehin (Newtown Square, Pa.) and freshman John
Hannan (Manhasset, N.Y.) each posted one goal and two assists for
three points. Senior Kenny Minor (South Hadley, Mass.) and freshman
James Kennedy (Summit, N.J.) each had one goal and one assist for
two points, while junior Colin Flood (Bay Shore, N.Y.) scored his
first goal of the season. Junior Douglas Broussard (Floral Park,
N.Y.) and sophomore David Henry (Davidsonville, Md.) each picked up
five ground balls for the Crusaders.
Dartmouth was led by Ari Sussman who recorded three goals and two
assists for five points and Josh Etzion who scored three goals.
Casey Hingtgen was outstanding as he picked up 13 ground balls.
Parzanese gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead with 10:16 left in the
first quarter, but at 7:16 Dartmouth scored the only other goal of
the first frame to tie the contest at 1-1. Holy Cross then scored
the first three goals of the second quarter to take a 4-1 lead.
Smirti gave the Crusaders the lead for good when he found the back
of the net off an assist by Minor, while Flood increased the
advantage to 3-1 when he scored his first goal of the season.
Parzanese earned his second point with an assist. With 8:09 left in
the second quarter Parzanese netted his second goal of the game as
he scored off a pass from Hannan. The Big Green stopped Holy
Cross’ scoring streak with the last goal before halftime as
the Crusaders took a 4-2 lead to the half.
After Parzanese scored the first goal of the second half with a
man-up goal off a pass from Hannan, Etzion cut the Holy Cross lead
to 5-3. Smirti then netted three of the next four goals to give
Holy Cross an 8-4 advantage. Kennedy assisted on Smirti’s
third goal of the game and Parzanese assisted on his fourth. Etzion
closed the third quarter with his third goal of the contest making
the score 8-5.
The Crusaders dominated the early part of the fourth quarter
scoring three straight goals to increase their lead to 11-5. Hannan
scored the eventual game-winner, while Kennedy scored off an assist
by McGeehin and Minor scored with an assist from Parzanese. After
Dartmouth scored two goals to cut the lead to 11-7, Smirti scored
his fifth goal with 6:08 left in the quarter. After a goal by the
Big Green, McGeehin scored the last goal of the contest with just
39 seconds left for the 13-8 victory.
Michael Novosel stopped 10 shots for Dartmouth, while the Big
Green outshot the Crusaders, 37-36. Holy Cross went 1-4 on man-up
opportunities and Dartmouth went 3-6, while the Big Green picked up
41 ground balls and the Crusaders had 38.
The Crusaders return to action when they play Colgate on Saturday,
March 13, at 12:00 p.m., at the new Holy Cross Field in the Patriot
League season-opener for both teams.
