Posted: Mar 21, 2009
RADNOR, Pa. --- #4 Roanoke College escaped Edith Robb Dixon Field with a 16-13 win at #8 Cabrini Saturday afternoon in what was arguably one of the biggest Div. III games of the week. The Maroons improved to 9-0 while the Cavaliers dropped to 4-3 on the season.
The win avenged a 10-9 loss in last year's season-opener for the Maroons as they now lead the series, 2-1. The other win for the Maroons came in 2006 with a 17-6 victory in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Roanoke, ranked fourth nationally by the USILA, won the groundball battle, 54-48 and held a slight edge in winning 17-of-33 face-offs. The Maroons were successful in 20-of-21 clear attempts and 2-of-3 extra man opportunities. Cabrini outshot Roanoke, 46-38.
Cabrini, ranked eighth in the latest USILA Top-20 poll, took the early 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter as Rich Romanelli scored two of the first four goals of the contest. It is the second time all season that the Maroons have trailed after the first quarter. The two goals were also the fewest they have scored in the opening period this season.
Roanoke's offense came alive in the second quarter as they scored seven unanswered goals, starting with Zach Thomas from Justin Tuma less than a minute into the second period. Thomas found Matt Quinton for what was the eventual game-winner with 13:15 remaining in the half to take a 5-4 lead.
Steve Furdock's man-up goal from Chas Carlson with 6:16 left in the first half gave the Maroons a game-high five-goal lead, 9-4. Thomas and Tuma hooked up again before the halftime to take a 10-5 lead.
Cabrini came out the gate in the second half and scored three-straight goals to close its deficit to within two, 10-8 in just over two minutes. Both teams exchanged goals and went into the final period with a score of 12-10.
Brian Hill's goal from Romannelli put the Cavaliers to within one, 12-11 with 13 minutes left in the game and put Roanoke on its heels.
But once again the Maroons remained poised and countered by scoring four of the next five goals over the following eight minutes of play to stay in command with a four-goal lead, 16-12. Brian Foley led the late surge, scoring two of the four goals, including the final goal for Roanoke with 4:46 remaining.
Quinton led the Maroons offensively with four goals while Thomas scored three goals and dished out two assists as he got a second chance at the Cavaliers. He played only one quarter in last year's season-opener against Cabrini as he suffered a season-ending injury in 2008. Quinton is only seven points shy of becoming the 40th member of the 100-point club at Roanoke (93).
Thomas passed Sean Smith '83 for sixth on the school's all-time career scoring list (209). In addition, his three goals passed Kris Davis '04 to place fifth on the career goals list (125). He is now eighth all-time in career assists (84). He is now needs only one win to tie the 2007 class for the most wins (55) as a player in school-history.
Tuma had a career-high four assists with five groundballs in the win while Stephen Simmons was big for the long stick defenders, collecting a career-high eight groundballs. Greg Khanzadian led the Maroons winning 9-of-14 face-offs along with six groundballs.
Foley finished with two goals, one assist and six groundballs. Pat March, Furdock and Trey Keeley all chipped in two goals and one assist in the school's ninth-straight win of the season. March passed Joe Weeren '03 for 20th on the career points list (133).
Jake Dorsey came up big for the Maroons in goal with 13 saves, including six in the opening period. Bobby Chambers took the loss for the Cavaliers, finishing with 10 saves. His effort today moved him into 10th all-time at Roanoke in career saves (376).
Casey Grugan led the Maroons with four points (1g, 3a) in addition to three groundballs. Scott Reimer had a team-best three goals and six groundballs. Mike Dolente scored a goal, collected seven groundballs and won 14-of-30 face-offs.
The men will host Williams this Wednesday, March 25 at Kerr Stadium in non-conference action. The Maroons play their fourth first-time opponent this season as the Ephs received votes in the latest USILA Div. III Top-20 Poll. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
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