FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Lacrosse team picked up their second consecutive ECC victory with a 14-9 decision over St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday afternoon.
 
STAC won the opening face-off and fired a shot wide, as senior Matt Williams caused a quick turnover to get the Bobcats their first possession. Senior Graham Allison and junior Henry Sykes were both denied by goalkeeper Hayden Gaudette, then after junior Ryder Walter had a CT, senior Sean Mullineaux drew a Gaudette save while junior Luke Roach hit the post. Just under six minutes in, despite Frostburg controlling the shots, it would be the Spartans to score the opener, as Nicola Greer hit a solo goal.
 
Three minutes later, STAC saw a shot of their own come back off the post, then at the other end, graduate Tyrin Long got the Bobcats on the board. After the pipe came to Frostburg's rescue again, Williams picked up the loose ball and led a swift transition, where junior Jack Hooks fed Walter through the middle to take a one-goal lead. Through the final five minutes, junior Lukasz Barmosz and Gaudette traded saves, while FSU survived a man-down penalty, eventually scoring through Mullineaux finding Hooks right in front of goal, ending the first frame up 3-1.
 
Both sides hit the post through the first five minutes of the second, as each netminder also made a save, with junior Logan Yost finally finding nylon with a bullet shot to go up by three. Sophomore Brody Monroe caused a turnover while Barmosz kept the Spartans out again, as Mullineaux again was the provider for sophomore Jackson Kanzler to fire home for a 5-1 advantage. Through the next three and a half minutes, junior Kieran Hofgesang and senior Hayden McCullough each caused turnovers, however Gaudette made a pair of saves in net.
 
Junior Chase Kelly was the next to get a CT, which allowed Mullineaux to find junior Josh High for his first goal of the year. Walter, Kelly, and Kanzler all kept STAC at bay through caused turnovers, as the latter turned his into a solo effort. Frostburg ramped up the pressure in the final minute, as a face-off violation allowed sophomore Jack Laye to rip one home, then Walter caused another turnover in leading junior Hayden Celio to pass to junior Mike Gloekler for his first tally of the year, taking the game into the half up 9-1.
 
In a quick start to the third period, Celio fed Hooks before Sykes found Roach for a pair of goals within the first 90 seconds to build a double-digit lead. Turnovers plagued both teams through the next couple minutes, as Barmosz made a save before a penalty allowed the Spartans to net their first goal since the opening frame. Barmosz had another pair of stops as STAC pushed for back-to-back scores before a turnover led to Laye and Yost both being denied by Gaudette. Two more TO's followed, as junior Jack Smith subbed into net for the Bobcats, making back-to-back stops in his first action. During the final two minutes, Mullineaux was thwarted by Gaudette, as the Spartans put home their third of the day to bring the score to 11-3 headed to the fourth.
 
It took the visitors just 20 seconds to start things off in the final quarter, as Gaudette kept their momentum going with two more saves. Celio helped restore some balance, firing low off a feed from Allison to stay up 12-4. After a pair of STAC penalties put them two men down, Allison was again the provider, this time to freshman Keegan Green for a nine-goal advantage. The Spartans dominated the next three minutes, holding FSU without a shot while a trio of penalties resulted in three goals to suddenly bring things to 13-7.
 
Freshman Breccan Liddy helped stop the bleeding with a face-off win and groundball pickup, eventually leading to classmate Alex Tyler scoring a much-needed goal to stay up by seven. Frostburg had a pair of efforts go wide while another was saved by Gaudette, while STAC also missed the target on two shots. In the final two minutes, the Spartans looked for a late miracle, netting twice 40 seconds apart in pulling within five, however Liddy caused a turnover to end the visitors' final possession and sealing the 14-9 victory.
 
Hooks, Celio, and Mullineaux each recorded three points apiece, combining for three goals and six assists. Walter drove the defensive effort with four caused turnovers and seven groundballs while also adding a goal, as Barmosz made six saves in net to just two goals allowed for the win.
 
With the victory, Frostburg improves to 8-4 on the year, while STAC drops to 3-8. FSU will return home on Wednesday, April 8 to face Wheeling at 6 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.