FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Lacrosse team defeated District of Columbia 15-3 on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Bobcat Stadium.
 
Prior to the game, FSU honored its 13 seniors in Tyrin Long, Riley Semmes, Hayden McCullough, Matt Williams, Braeden Bushyager, Will Stephanos, Hayden Tyler, Dan Rafferty, Graham Allison, Robbie Peters, Will McNeely, Sean Mullineaux, and John Serina.
 
In a fairly slow start to the first period, UDC won the opening face-off and put their first effort wide, as after the sides traded turnovers, Joshua Copeland put the visitors on the board first. A minute later, the Bobcats got themselves back into the game, holding off a man-down penalty thanks to a Semmes save, as Allison fed Mullineaux to tie things up. Sophomore Jackson Kanzler then got Frostburg the ball back, from which one effort went wide, another was saved by Israel Amajioyi, and the third was put home by junior Hayden Celio off an assist from freshman Keegan Green.
 
FSU found their offensive groove through the next two minutes, as Green and sophomore Jack Laye netted on passes from Mullineaux and junior Logan Yost, then Stephanos caused a turnover that led to junior Ryder Walter going on a breakaway, passing across goal to Mullineaux to fire home the fifth goal of the frame. Frostburg struggled to put shots on target for much of the remainder of the quarter, putting four efforts wide or high, while another two were stopped in goal. Celio finally broke through, scooping up a loose ball and beating Amajioyi for a 6-1 score.
 
Through the first four minutes of the second frame, junior Chase Kelly and sophomore Brody Monroe each caused a Firebird turnover, while Amajioyi and Semmes traded a pair of saves. On a transition attack, Celio turned provider to junior Mike Gloeckler for a six-goal advantage. Both sides had trouble keeping hold of the ball for the next 10 minutes, combining for 13 turnovers while only four efforts were put on target, as Amajioyi denied each one. With 20 seconds to go in the half, junior Luke Roach went on a run through the defense and broke the goal drought, putting the lead at 8-1 headed to the break.
 
Walter gave Frostburg a quick possession to start the third period with a CT, as a minute later, Roach put home his second of the day. Semmes and Amajioyi traded another pair of saves, as Walter, Kelly, and Rafferty all caused turnovers to hold UDC's offense at bay for the next five minutes, with the latter leading a counter-attack that allowed Celio to find Green for a 10-1 advantage. Through the final nine minutes of the period, Semmes and Amajioyi stood firm in net, with the two having five saves between the pair to go into the fourth.
 
Starting out the final period with a face-off win, FSU wasted little time adding onto the lead, with Allison and Mullineaux both netting solo efforts either side of a caused turnover from junior Kieran Hofgesang. After freshman Ayden Viscount won another at the X, Roach fired a shot off the post before he found Allison for a 13-1 score. The Firebirds had their best offensive stretch of the game through a two-minute span, scoring goals either side of freshman RJ Wilhelm getting himself on the board for the Bobcats at a 14-3 lead. In the final five minutes, each goaltender made a save, as Roach completed his hat trick on a feed from sophomore Kobe Link to take the 15-3 victory.
 
Celio, Roach, and Mullinueax each netted four total points on the day, combining for eight gaols and four assists between the trio. Walter and Kelly drove the defensive effort with three caused turnovers apiece, with the former also scooping up six groundballs.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 10-6 on the year, while UDC ends their campaign at 1-10. FSU will next take part in the ECC Tournament, where their seed and opponent will soon be determined, as the semifinals will begin on Wednesday, April 29. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.