The men’s lacrosse team erupted for a season high of 20 goals against Mount Saint Mary University. The team also as improved their winning streak to eleven wins this past week in the victory over Mount Saint Mary University as well as Goucher College. Senior Russell LeClair had a career high eight points and sophomore Joe Clark added another five goal performance. Elizabethtown’s six second-quarter goals came from six different players: junior Jimmy Waters, sophomore Jason Clough, LeClair, first-year Kevin Meakim, Clark and sophomore Cody Larkin. LeClair, junior Jordan Bowser and junior Jake Snyder had an assist each.
The Blue Jays, who came into the game as one of the hottest teams in the nation, had the Knights buried at halftime as they took an 11-1 lead. On the defensive end, the Blue Jays continued to prove why they are amongst the top defenses in the Conference. Senior Jason Kelley led the way with four caused turnovers, while LeClair and senior Matt Frey forced three apiece. Senior goalie Chris Wenger had a big day, despite the uneven score. He stopped 11 shots.
Sophomore Phil Kyger recorded his first two career goals, while junior Jake Evans recorded his first career goal. Senior and defensive midfielder Connor Rowe, who is second on the team in groundballs, has caused nothing but havoc for opposing offensives the entire year, spoke after the game on Wednesday on behalf of the team’s success. “I think a large part of our success comes from the brotherhood we created,” Rowe said. “It’s one big family and to sell out for one another is easy because you know your teammates are doing the same for you.”
The team’s winning streak was in jeopardy late in the fourth quarter against Goucher, but Jimmy Waters did not let the team’s streak end. Goucher led by two with 7:28 to play, but the Blue Jays scored the last three goals, including Waters’ game-winner with 15 seconds remaining to clinch a Landmark Conference win with an 8-7 score. “The team showed a lot of focus despite being down at times,” Waters said. “This is something that will be very pivotal for us to do come playoffs.”
Before Waters’ game winner, Clough brought the Jays within a goal with 7:28 left and LeClair tied the game at seven on his 30th goal of the season at the 3:56 mark. The Blue Jays’ defense set up the offense in the final minute. Frey forced one of his game-high three turnovers with 46 seconds left, which would end up resulting in Waters’ game-winning goal.
Goucher’s Gavin Wilson was a victim of a badly timed tripping penalty, setting up an extra-man opportunity that would decide the game for the Blue Jays. Thirteen seconds into the penalty, sophomore Mike Specht found Waters for the go-ahead goal, his eighth of the season. With this win, the Blue Jays are the school’s first spring sport to have locked up a playoff berth. The team looks to be competitive and do some damage come late April and early May.
