The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Lacrosse team opened their 2019 season with a 12-4 road victory over American International College on Saturday evening in Springfield, MA.
Luke Broderick and Tyler Senatore registered 3 goals each, while Thomas Sharp, Anthony Irizarry and Brenton Mighty netted 2 goals apiece, and goalie Ryan Mello picked up his first victory of the season.
The Spartans kicked things off in the first quarter when Anthony Irizarry and Tyler Senatore each scored to give STAC an immediate 2-0 lead. Eric Mackowski cut the lead in half for the Yellow Jackets at 2-1, but that was short lived as newcomer Thomas Sharp lit the lamp for St. Thomas Aquinas, giving the visitors a 3-1 lead at the end of one.
In the second quarter action, STAC was able to extend their lead by two, at 4-1, as Luke Broderick scored for the guys in maroon and gold. Rusty Stone answered right back for AIC, cutting the lead in half again at 4-2, before the Spartans connected three more times in the frame with Broderick, Brenton Mighty and Senatore each netting a goal. At the halftime buzzer St. Thomas Aquinas held a commanding 7-2 advantage.
Third quarter play saw the Spartans score three more times, with Sharp and Mighty each picking up their second goals of the contest and Senatore closing out the STAC scoring with his third of the night. Eric Mackowski was able to get the Yellow Jackets on the board with his second of the game, however STAC widened their lead on the scoreboard to 10-3 to end the quarter.
In the fourth and final quarter of play, AIC struck almost immediately with Avery Foye netting his first of the night, making it a 10-4 STAC lead. However, the Spartans closed out the night's scoring with Irizarry's second of the game and Broderick's third of the evening, sealing the victory for St. Thomas Aquinas at 12-4.
Spartan goalie Ryan Mello (W, 1-0) stopped 10 of 14 shots faced. Meanwhile, American International netminder Stephen Stratton (L, 0-1) picked up 9 saves.
STAC held a 35-22 shots advantage for the game.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1-0) will open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday, March 5th against the College of Saint Rose. Opening face-off is scheduled for 3pm at Spartan Field.