M. Lax Puts Away C.W. Post

For the graduating seniors of the Harvard men's lacrosse team, nothing could be better. The weather was gorgeous yesterday afternoon, and the team recorded a resounding win over the C.W. Post Pioneers, 15-9. C.W. Post  9 Harvard  15

"It's nice to win the last one at Ohiri," senior attack Jamie Ames said.

There wasn't much doubt about this one.

With a scant one minute removed from the clock, the Crimson (7-5 overall, 3-2 Ivy) put its first tally on the board.

Freshman attack Mike Ferrucci (three goals) grabbed a pass on the right side of the net, gave a fake to his right, rolled out to his left and fired a low shot past Post goalie Kelly Bixler (21 saves).

Post (5-7) got it back, however. With seven minutes remaining in the first quarter and the score still 1-0 Harvard, post midfielder Joseph Loiacano took a pass from behind the net, rolled around the net, and sent a point-blank shot past sophomore netminder Rob Lyng (13 saves) to tie the game.

That was the closet point of the game. The first Post score seemed to light a fire under the Crimson that lasted throughout the first half.

First, Ames scored with five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Then, senior defenseman Sean Lavin stole a pass and fired the ball up the field to co-captain Creighton Reed--who iced the fast-break by beating Bixler with only 34 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Leading the defensive effort that held Post to a meager eight shots on goal in the first quarter was junior Tim Browne.

"Tim played amazing today," junior midfielder Pat McCulloch said. "He has great stick checks and is a charismatic leader on defense."

Also critical to the Crimson offensive charge was ball control.

McCulloch won all seven faceoffs in the first period, 10 of the 13 in the half, and 18 of the game's 25 total faceoffs.

"Whenever I can pick one up and send it down to the offense, we usually come away with a goal," McCulloch said.

McCulloch's quick reflexes had his opponents so spooked that by the second half Post's faceoff men routinely went for the ball before the referee's whistle or were goaded into committing a penalty, automatically giving Harvard possession.

Harvard also came away with a clear advantage in the ground ball department, winning 48 to Post's 39.

The second quarter was just as strong for the Crimson.

The Crimson again wasted no time getting to the net.

Browne and McCulloch made two hard checks to jar the ball from a Post attack, and Browne grabbed the ground ball and took the ball upfield where he found junior attack Mike Eckert (three goals).

Eckert tried to move inside to the goal, but was met by a wall of Post defenders.

He wasn't going to be denied, however.

Eckert cranked a screaming sidearm shot from 15 yards out past a bewildered Bixler just 30 seconds into the quarter.

Two minutes later, Eckert rang up Harvard's seventh tally, this time snaking through the Post defense and firing from in close on Bixler.

Harvard's defense also played ferociously.

With three minutes remaining, a Post attack turned to shoot from some ten yards out.

Instead of getting a clear look at the goal, he got a faceful of senior defenseman Jon Ponosuk, who demolished him and forced a loose ball, which Harvard recovered.

Harvard's seniors, playing in their last home game, also lit up the scoreboard. Lavin and senior co-captains Steve Gaffney and Creighton Reed all notched tallies for the Crimson.

Rounding out Harvard's scores were the freshmen Bevilacqua brothers--midfielder Lou and attack Jim, who each found the net once--and junior Chris Wojcik, who also scored a goal.

The 15-9 triumph was a fitting way to leave Ohiri Field. The last game of the Crimson's regular season is Saturday, when the team travels up to Hanover, N.H. to challenge the Dartmouth Big Green.

HARVARD, 15-9 at Ohiri Field C.W. Post  1  2  1  5  --  9 Harvard  5  3  2  5  --  15

G: C.W. Post--Narvaez (3), Loiacano (3), Zaikowski, Selhorn, Baldante; Harvard--Ames (3), Ferrucci (3), Eckert (3), Wojcik, J. Bevilacqua, Reed, Faffney, L. Bevilacqua, Lavin. A: C.W. Post--Ezelius (2), Baldante; Harvard--Ferrucci (2), Eckert, Marvin. S: C.W. Post--Bixler (20), Eggerman (1); Harvard--Lyng (12), Chetron (1).