Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa. – Immaculata University poured in six goals during the third quarter to defeat Neumann University, 13-12, in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) men's lacrosse opener for the Mighty Macs on Saturday afternoon at Draper Walsh Stadium. It marked the fifth straight win for the Mighty Macs opposite the Knights.
 
Immaculata (2-7, 1-0 CSAC) fell behind early, and trailed 9-5 at halftime. However, the Mighty Macs were able to overcome their early deficit with six straight goals to begin the third quarter, and take an 11-9 lead on the Knights with 5:04 remaining. Bhelly Bagbonon scored two goals during the Immaculata spurt, while Ben Tuscai assisted on four of the Mighty Macs' six goals. Bagbonon scored his second goal of the run and fifth of the afternoon at the 8:45 mark to tie the game at 9-9. Dante Tuscai then found the back of the net with 6:41 left in the stanza to hand the Mighty Macs their first lead of the game, 10-9.
 
Mike Boyd gave the hosts a two-goal cushion with a man-up goal with just over five minutes to play in the quarter, but Neumann was able to trim Immaculata's lead back to one (11-10) by the end of the third quarter.
 
Luc Minnich began the final stanza scoring just 23 seconds in on a pass from Bagbonon to push Immaculata's lead back to two (12-10). Immaculata held Neumann off the scoreboard until the Knights broke through with 7:19 remaining to cut the Mighty Macs' lead back to one, 12-11. Immaculata then added an insurance goal from Ryan Cipriani on another assist from B. Tuscai with just 2:19 to play. Cipriani's goal proved crucial as Neumann won the face-off and raced down the field to score, cutting the difference back to one (13-12).
 
Neumann (1-8, 0-2 CSAC) opened the contest with four straight goals and led 7-2 by the end of the first quarter. Immaculata made a run in the second quarter scoring three goals while holding Neumann to just two tallies.
 
Bagbonon finished with six points on five goals and one assist. B. Tuscai recorded five points, all on assists. Minnich and Rocco Piliero finished with two goals and one assist, while Cipriani added two tallies. Mike Boyd recorded one goal and two assists. D. Tuscai had one goal, and Jonathan Kopistecki had one assist.
 
D. Tuscai was 10-for-16 on face-offs, while Kopistecki went 6-for-10. D. Tuscai also led the Mighty Macs scooping up six ground balls, and John Abruzzo collected five loose balls.
 
Immaculata goalkeeper Jon Diodati earned his second win of the season with 22 saves.

Immaculata will be on the road on Wednesday at Gwynedd-Mercy for a 4 p.m. face-off.