Farmingdale State - 13, Maritime - 9
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | Junior goalkeeper
Connor Dobson (Islip, N.Y.) recorded a season-high 18 saves to lead the Farmingdale State men's lacrosse team to a 13-9 win over Skyline Conference-leading Maritime on Wednesday evening. With the victory, the Rams improved to 12-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play. FSC is now tied with Maritime and Merchant Marine atop the Skyline standings and can secure at least the No. 2 seed in next week's playoffs with a win in Saturday's regular season finale.
Maritime (7-8, 5-1 Skyline) opened the scoring early in the first quarter before Farmingdale State responded at the 12:05 mark when senior midfielder Casey Fortunato (Northport, N.Y.) finished a pass from junior attack Adam Giovinco (Syosset, N.Y.). The Rams then took the lead when junior attack Joey Forchelli (Seaford, N.Y.) scored on a man-up opportunity off an assist from senior midfielder Tommy Mai (Islip, N.Y.). The Privateers answered with two late goals in the first quarter to take a 3-2 lead into the second.
FSC tied the contest early in the second when Fortunato scored his second goal of the game off an assist from senior midfielder Connor Murtha (Moriches, N.Y.). Maritime responded with with four of the next five goals to build a 7-4 advantage.
Farmingdale State trailed 8-5 and closed the half with three unanswered scores to knot the game. Giovinco, senior midfielder Amir Slaughter (North Babylon, N.Y.) and Forchelli each scored in the run as the teams entered halftime tied at 8-8.
The Rams took the lead in the third quarter when sophomore midfielder Nicholas Mistler (Patchogue, N.Y.) scored at the 9:24 mark. Just eight seconds later, freshman attack Ethan Vargas (Bay Shore, N.Y.) added a goal off a pass from Mai to extend the lead to 10-8. Forchelli recorded his fourth goal of the game with 5:39 remaining in the quarter off an assist from Fortunato to make it 11-8.
Maritime scored on a man-up opportunity late in the third quarter to close within two, but the FSC defense did not allow another Privateers' goal as they went on for the win. Dobson made 13 of his 18 saves in the second half to help the Rams secure the 13-9 victory.
Forchelli led the Rams with four goals and one assist, while Giovinco totaled two goals, two assists, four ground balls and one caused turnover. Fortunato recorded two goals and one assist and Mai finished with one goal and two assists. Mistler, Vargas, senior long stick midfielder Sean Lawson (Mattituck, N.Y.), and Slaughter each scored once and Murtha added one assist in the win.
Dobson finished with a season-high 18 saves and five ground balls in goal. Lawson also recorded five ground balls, while sophomore defender Logan Reese (West Islip, N.Y.) added four GB's and one caused turnover.
Farmingdale State returns to action on Saturday, April 25th, when they host Mount Saint Vincent in their regular season finale at noon. Prior to the game, the program will honor its seniors with a Senior Day ceremony beginning at 11:40 a.m.
