FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Lacrosse team picked up their third consecutive victory with a 17-7 decision over Wheeling at home Wednesday evening.
After FSU won the opening face-off, a turnover allowed the Cardinals their first offensive possession, which they took full advantage of with a solo goal after just a minute of play. The Bobcats were able to swiftly recover, as sophomore Daimon Spriggs picked up the loose ball on the FO, allowing senior Graham Allison to slice through the middle of WU's defense and tie things up. Junior Ryder Walter then broke up a pair of Wheeling possessions with caused turnovers, as junior Luke Roach fired into the cage to give Frostburg their first lead with just under five minutes gone.
FSU fired off three efforts in the next two minutes, as one went wide, another hit the post, and the third was saved by Landen Martin, while junior Lukasz Barmosz was called into action for the first time at the other end. Graduate Tyrin Long was the next to call his own number, netting the third solo Bobcat goal, however the Cardinals responded quickly, bringing things to 3-2. Through the next five minutes, the only shots came from two Frostburg efforts going wide, while sophomore Jackson Kanzler earned a CT that led to classmate Jack Laye finding Long open in front of goal, as he had enough time and space to fire between his legs facing away from the net to lead 4-2 after Barmosz made a stop to end the first period.
In a fast start to the second quarter, Allison fed freshman Keegan Green on the doorstep to build a three-goal lead after 75 seconds. Two Frostburg penalties allowed WU to answer back before Allison and Green passed to Roach and Walter, respectively, to go up 7-3 within a minute of each other. Neither side managed a shot on target for the next five minutes, as this time it would be Wheeling to net two straight goals and pull within 7-5. Spriggs helped restore some order, going on a run to the right side and finding the back of the cage. Sophomore Brody Monroe caused a turnover as Sykes was denied by Martin and the Cardinals put two shots off target to head into the half at 8-5.
Wheeling won the first face-off out of the break but immediately turned the ball over, as Sykes broke through to make it a four-goal lead. Defensively, Barmosz picked up another save while Roach caused a turnover to keep the Cardinals at bay, as Sykes and junior Hayden Celio went for back-to-back scores and an 11-5 advantage. Freshman RJ Wilhelm got in on the action by grabbing a rebound off a Martin save and slotting home, while another Walter CT led to senior Sean Mullineaux putting one in for an eight-goal margin. The Cardinals were then denied by a combination of the post and Barmosz, as Green put in two scores in the final minute, being found by senior Hayden McCullough on one for a 15-5 score.
WU took control through the first four minutes of the final frame, netting a man-up goal before slotting home another score to get the deficit down to eight. Over a seven-minute stretch, turnovers plagued both teams, as junior Jack Smith traded saves in goal with Martin. With just under five minutes remaining, freshman Graydon Young found sophomore Kobe Link for a score, followed just 30 seconds later by junior Josh High ripping one home to restore the 10-goal advantage. The Cardinals didn't manage another effort on target for the remainder of the contest, leaving the final score at 17-7.
Green led all scorers with three goals and an assist, while Walter led the defensive effort on four caused turnovers and three groundballs.
With the win, Frostburg improves to 9-4 on the year, while Wheeling drops to 5-5. FSU will return to ECC play as they travel to Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday, April 11 at 12 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.
