Box Score OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- No. 17 Stevenson men's lacrosse scored the opening four goals of the game and did not look back, rolling past Messiah with a 20-10 victory at Mustang Stadium on Wednesday night.
Stevenson (8-4, 4-0) had several scoring runs that built a comfortable lead in the contest. Josh Brannan, the reigning MAC Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Week, posted 11 points with seven goals and four assists to pace the Mustangs.
Brannan was one of 10 goal scorers on the night for the balanced Mustangs, who utilized a quick-strike offense as part of the runaway victory against Messiah (6-7, 2-2). Stevenson used a 7-2 second quarter to secure a 12-3 lead heading into the intermission on Wednesday.
Nolan Enneguess helped the Mustangs to a commanding night at the faceoff dot, adding two goals and 13 victories at the X with 12 ground balls. Mitchell Lachman netted three goals for Stevenson, while Cam Leydig posted a pair of his own.
The Mustangs opened up a 3-0 lead over the initial 10 minutes of the opening quarter. Brannan cashed in off a feed from Ed Masterson for a 1-0 lead at 10:54.
Leydig and Brannan fired consecutive tallies for a 3-0 lead as Lachman assisted on the second tally just 25 seconds apart. Out of a Messiah timeout, Stevenson extended its lead to 4-0 on a goal from Lachman in the opening period.
The Mustangs beat the first quarter buzzer with a goal from Lachman, pushing the Mustangs ahead 5-1. It was all part of a five-goal run for Stevenson, which included three goals in 27 seconds for a 9-1 advantage.
Nolan Enneguess earned a faceoff win quickly after a Leydig marker, veering to his right before slotting one past the Messiah goalie. After Lachman picked the left corner of the cage, Matthew Schell scooped up the ensuing faceoff and rifled a goal at 1:58 for a 12-3 lead.
Stevenson picked up right where it left off in the second half. The Mustangs picked up three more goals in the opening seven minutes of the third quarter, including a great find in front from Ford to Ryan Coleman.
Marc Poust, who finished the night with seven saves, turned aside a few chances from the Falcons in the third with the Mustangs ahead comfortably. After an extended possession, Stevenson was able to burn some clock in the third leading 15-3.
The Falcons used a three-goal spurt at the tail end of the third, trimming their deficit back to 15-6. Stevenson began the fourth quarter with three consecutive goals, pushing the lead to 18-6 as Brannan found the back of the net on two more occasions.
Messiah recorded three straight as Stevenson worked in different lineup combinations, working back to within 18-9. Luke Wetzel posted his first collegiate goal with a heavy shot from the right wing, extending the Stevenson lead to double digits in the fourth.
Seth Libby had a team-high three goals to pace the Falcons.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Brannan scored or assisted on each of the initial seven goals of the game for the Mustangs.
- Brannan finished the opening half with eight points, part of an impressive offensive stretch since the start of conference play.
- Brannan has scored at least 10 points in each of the past two games for Stevenson, previously tying a single-game school record with 12 points against Hood.
- Daniel Fisher was equally as dominant for the Mustangs facing off, earning wins in 15 of 16 chances at the dot.
- Stevenson had scoring runs three, four and five goals in the opening half.
- Ford handed out three or more assists for the fifth time this season, also extending his goal streak to nine games.
- Stevenson is now 52-0 all-time under head coach Paul Cantabene when scoring 20 or more goals.
- Grant Zick chipped in a goal and assist for Stevenson in the second half, opening the goal scoring in the third and assisting on a Matt Byron goal in the fourth.
- Stevenson collected a season-high 28 faceoffs in the victory.
- Brannan notched the 60th goal of his career in the fourth quarter, marking his 38th of the season.
- The Mustangs held a 56-30 edge in ground balls, also going an impressive 15-of-16 on clearing attempts.
- Stevenson has registered 70 or more shots in three of four conference games this season.
- Stevenson remains undefeated in regular season MAC Commonwealth play, dating back to the 2013 campaign.
UP NEXT
- Stevenson: The Mustangs close out the week with a matchup against surging Stevens on Friday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m.
- Messiah: The Falcons visit York (Pa.) on Wednesday, April 20 for a 7:00 p.m. start.
