Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Lacrosse team earned its second straight victory on Sunday afternoon, with a 9-2 triumph over D'Youville University in East Coast Conference action at Spartan Field.

STAC improves to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in ECC play, while D'Youville slips to 1-10 and 0-2.

Michael Huff led the Spartans' offense on the day with two goals and five assists, including two behind the back dazzlers. Meanwhile, teammate Joseph Casarella tallied three goals and a helper. Ryan Christensen (1 goal, 1 assist), Jeremy Schucker (1 goal), John Pena (1 goal), Jeremy Poggi (1 goal) also added to the totals on the scoreboard for the maroon and gold. Goalie Craig Peavy (W, 4-7) got the start between the pipes for STAC and was spectacular, stopping 12 of 14 shots faced to pick up this fourth win in 11 tries.

D'Youville was led by Nick Sholett, who tallied a goal and an assist, while Tristan Engelhardt added a goal of his own for the Saints. Goalie William Nichols (L, 0-7) made 7 saves on the afternoon, before being spelled by Ryan McInnes for the final 3:51 of the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• STAC tallied a pair of first quarter goals, as Michael Huff and Jeremy Schucker each found the back of the net to put the hosts ahead 2-0 through 15 minutes of action.
• Joseph Casarella opened the second stanza with his first of three tallies for the Spartans to give the maroon and gold a 3-0 advantage.
• D'Youville quickly answered with its first goal of the afternoon, courtesy of Tristan Engelhardt on the man up advantage, to break the shutout and cut its deficit to 3-1.
• Three straight goals by St. Thomas Aquinas doubled the hosts' lead at 6-1, with Michael Huff, John Pena and Joseph Casarella all striking for scores before the teams retreated to their respective benches for the halftime break.
• When the teams returned to the field for third quarter action, the Spartans' offense continued to produce goals, as Jeremy Poggi and Joseph Casarella accounted for all of the scoring in the frame to increase the STAC lead to 8-1.
• Nick Sholett would get one back for the visiting Saints early in the fourth quarter to make it an 8-2 game.
• Ryan Christensen closed the scoring for the Spartans in the final four minutes of the stanza with his first of the day to give his team a seven goal victory, 9-2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: 

• STAC outshot D'Youville 39-25 (16-14 on goal) for the game.
• Joseph Casarella tallied a game-high 11 shots, with four going on net for St. Thomas Aquinas.
• James Staeckeler, John Morris and Austin Palen each gathered four of the Spartans 32 ground balls.
• Morris also caused five Saints turnovers on the afternoon.
• STAC won 7 of 14 faceoffs, with Austin Palen accounting for all of the maroon and gold draws.

UP NEXT:

STAC takes its two-game win streak on the road, visiting Caldwell University on Wednesday, March 27. The Spartans and Cougars will square off at Essex Valley Field in West Caldwell, New Jersey beginning at 4:00 p.m.