Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Lacrosse team received hat-tricks from Reno Molina, Michael Huff and Ryan Christensen en route to a 16-7 Senior Day victory over the University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Field.

STAC improves to 5-9 overall and 2-2 in ECC play, while UDC drops to 1-8 and 0-3.

Prior to the contest between the Spartans and Firebirds, STAC honored its graduating senior class; Justin Avella, Kyle Kuhn, Matthew Marquez, Jr., Carlos Aguilar, JT Perry, Jonathan Farley, Reno Molina, Bo Maroney, James Staeckeler, Joseph Longobardo, Craig Peavy, and Michael Huff with on-field ceremonies, which included their teammates, families, coaches and college administrators.

When the teams got down to business on the turf, Reno Molina, Michael Huff and Ryan Christensen each tallied three goals on the day, with Huff also picking up three assists and Molina one helper. Meanwhile, teammates John Pena (2 goals, 1 assist) and Jeremy Poggi (2 goals) struck for two goals apiece. Joseph Casarella (1 goal, 1 assist), Carlos Aguilar (1 goal, 1 assist) and Matthew Drayton (1 goal) also added to the totals on the scoresheet for the maroon and gold. Goalie Craig Peavy (W, 5-9) started between the pipes for STAC and stopped 5 of 10 shots, before Justin Avella closed things out in the final seven minutes of the contest. Avella made one save on three shots faced.

UDC received its offense from Julian Schemm, Jordan Schemm and Zakai Robinson, who scored two goals apiece while Dylan Donaldson tallied a goal of his own. Goalie Najee Wilson (L, 1-8) made 26 saves on 42 total shots.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• STAC opened the contest with back-to-back goals, as Reno Molina and Ryan Christensen each found the back of the net to give the hosts a quick 2-0 lead just three minutes in.
• The visiting Firebirds quickly answered with a pair of goals from Zakai Robinson and Julian Schemm to knot the score at 2-2.
• Michael Huff and Ryan Christensen then responsed in kind with consecutive goals to put the Spartans back ahead, 4-2.
• Julian Schemm closed the scoring in the frame with a man-up goal cut the UDC deficit to 4-3 through 15 minutes of action.
• A four-goal outburst kicked off the second stanza, with Jeremy Poggi, Michael Huff, Joseph Casarella and John Pena all striking for goals to increase the STAC lead to 8-3.
• Dylan Robinson got one back for UDC to make it 8-4, but Reno Molina would come up with a goal of his own before the halftime buzzer to send the teams to the break with the Spartans still maintaining a five-goal advantage at 9-4.
• When the teams returned to the field for the third quarter, a maroon and gold goal barrage ensued, with five straight tallies courtesy of Ryan Christensen, John Pena, Reno Molina, Carlos Aguilar and Michael Huff to extend the hosts' lead to 14-4.
• District of Columbia tried to claw their way back into the contest in the fourth quarter, outscoring STAC 3-2, with goals from Jordan Schemm (2) and Zakai Robinson, but Matthew Drayton and Jeremy Poggi would help keep the Firebirds at arm's length with goals of their own to send the Spartans to the 16-7 Senior Day triumph.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE: 

• STAC outshot UDC 64-21 (42-13 on goal) for the game.
• Michael Huff tallied a game-high 11 shots, with seven going on net for St. Thomas Aquinas.
• James Staeckeler gathered 17 of the Spartans 63 ground balls. Staeckeler also caused four of the Firebird's turnovers.
• STAC won 26 of 27 faceoffs, with Austin Palen winning 20-of-21 draws and James Guild going 6-for-6 in the circle.

UP NEXT:

St. Thomas Aquinas hosts Molloy University in a ECC matchup and the team's regular season home finale at Spartan Field on Saturday, April 20 at 11:00 a.m.