U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 14, Farmingdale State 9

---

KINGS POINT, N.Y. | The Farmingdale State College men's lacrosse team fell in its regular-season finale Saturday afternoon, dropping a 14-9 decision at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Skyline Conference play.

The visiting Rams (14-3, 6-1 Skyline) jumped out to a 3-0 lead less than three minutes into the game behind goals from junior Tyler Kollar (Bellport, N.Y.), and seniors Kyle Kolano (Babylon, N.Y.) and Gerardo Maldonado (W. Hempstead, N.Y.). USMMA (10-4, 6-1) scored the last four goals of the first period as part of a six-goal run by the hosts. In the final 3:22 of the half, FSC seniors Thomas Stock (Selden, N.Y.) and Tanner Longo (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.) tallied one goal apiece, cutting the Rams' deficit at the break to 7-5.

Farmingdale State junior midfielder Michael Cassano (Plainview, N.Y.) converted a feed from Maldonado just 40 seconds into the third period to bring the visitors to within a one-goal margin. The Mariners then scored the next four goals, extending their lead to 11-6 before Cassano's unassisted tally with 8:24 remaining in the fourth period stopped the spurt. USMMA and FSC exchanged two goals apiece – including Rams scores by senior Rob Varello (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Kolano – over the next three minutes of play, before a late goal in the final minute by the Mariners accounted for the final score.

Cassano led the FSC offense with three points on the afternoon, with Kolano and Maldonado (1g, 1a) finishing with two points apiece. Senior midfielder John Carnevale (East Meadow, N.Y.), freshmen defender Joseph Bleck (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and freshman long-stick midfielder Sean Lawson (Mattituck, N.Y.) each swiped two takeaways on the defensive half of the field, with Lawson leading all field players with six ground balls. Senior goalkeeper Dan Erler (Smithtown, N.Y.) made 14 saves in the Rams' cage, including four apiece in the second and third periods.

Head coach Sean Chamberlain's Farmingdale State side is next in action Tuesday (April 30) in the semifinal round of the four-team Skyline Conference Championship. Update: The Rams are the No. 3 seed in the championship, and will play second-seeded USMMA on Tuesday (April 30) at 5 p.m., at top-seeded Maritime College (Throggs Neck, N.Y.). The Championship is a ticketed event, and tickets will go on sale online Sunday at noon at this link.