Washington, D.C. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Lacrosse team wrapped up its 2023 campaign on Saturday afternoon, scoring a 24-7 decision over the University of the District of Columbia at the Georgetown Day School in our nation's capital.

STAC closed the books on their season, improving to 6-7 overall and 2-4 within ECC play, while UDC falls 0-10 and 0-6.

The Spartans received a six-point effort from Ryan Christensen on five goals and an assist, while Steven Apicella racked up three goals and three helpers for six points of his own. Justin Chin (3 goals), John Pena (2 goals, 3 assists), Michael Huff (2 goals, 2 assists), Braiden Struss (2 goals, 1 assist), Austin Palen (1 goal, 1 assist), Jeremy Schucker (1 goal, 1 assist), Jeremy Poggi (1 goal, 1 assist), James Guild (1 goal), Devin Sierra (1 goal), Carlos Aguilar (1 goal) and Jonathan Farley (1 goal) all also contributed to offensive outburst by the maroon and gold.

In the cage, Connor Reed got the start for STAC and made 20 saves on 27 shots to pick up his second win (2-2) in four decisions.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• STAC began the contest with nine straight goals, as Steven Apicella (3), John Pena (2), Michael Huff (2) and Ryan Christensen (2) struck for multiple scores to take a 9-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the opening quarter.
• Julian Schemm broke the shutout for the hosts from UDC with just under three minutes to play in the first quarter to make it 9-1.
• The Spartans closed the stanza with a goal by Braiden Struss to hold a 10-1 advantage through 15 minutes of action.
• Devin Sierra and Ryan Christensen picked up back-to-back goals to open the second quarter, as STAC increased its lead to 12-1.
• UDC countered with consecutive goals of their own, when Dylan Donaldson and Julian Schemm each beat Spartans netminder Connor Reed to make it a 12-3 game.
• Justin Chin closed the scoring before halftime with a pair of goals of his own to give STAC a 14-3 lead at the break.
• When the teams returned to the field for third quarter action, STAC outscored UDC 5-1 in the frame on goals by Ryan Christensen, Jonathan Farley, Carlos Aguilar, Austin Palen and Braiden Struss, while the Firebirds received scoring from Maxwell Hansberry. St. Thomas Aquinas expanded its advantage on the scoreboard to 19-4.
• In the final quarter of the season, Justin Chin (STAC) and Carnell Lofton, Jr. (UDC) traded goals in the first four plus minutes to make it a 20-5 game in favor of the Spartans.
• James Guild, Ryan Christensen and Jeremy Schucker each deposited goal to the back of the cage to continue the maroon and gold offensive onslaught to make it 23-5.
• Back-to-back goals by Dylan Donaldson and Maxwell Hansberry wrapped the Firebirds scoring for the day to cut their deficit to 23-7.
• Jeremy Poggi lit the lamp one final time for the Spartans in 2023 to give the visitors the 24-7 victory, and drawing the curtain on the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• STAC tallied 60 shots, with 46 directed on goal.
• Ryan Christensen and Jeremy Poggi fired six shots on net apiece.
• James Staeckeler, Daniel Bartolomei and James Guild scooped up four ground balls each in the match. As a team, STAC gathered 39 ground balls.
• Staeckeler and Guild also caused four turnovers each on the afternoon.
• Joseph Longobardo went 5-for-20 on faceoffs for the maroon and gold, while James Guild won 4-of-7 draws.