IMMACULATA, Pa.- Senior goalkeeper Matthew Ludlow made 17 saves, anchoring the defensive unit, and eight different players scored at least one goal, as the second-seeded Immaculata defeated third-seeded Gwynedd Mercy, 14-4, in its Atlantic East Conference (AEC) men's lacrosse Semifinal Saturday afternoon at Draper Walsh Stadium.
 
With the victory, Immaculata will advance to the AEC championship game for a second consecutive season.
 
Sophomore Jude Azzarano led the Mighty Macs with three goals and two assists, and junior Ryan Gorman added two goals and two assists. Sophomore Jason Smaron had one goal and two assists, and senior Matthew Frame and freshmen Aaron Headley and Brody Moore each added two goals for the Macs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST GWYNEDD MERCY

• Gwynedd Mercy struck first just under two minutes in, but Immaculata responded quickly and never looked back. Jason Smaron got the Macs on the board midway through the opening quarter off a feed from Ryan Gorman, sparking a three-goal run. Jude Azzarano and Gorman followed with tallies of their own to give Immaculata a 3–1 lead after one.
• The Macs continued to build momentum in the second quarter. Azzarano added his second goal of the game off a crisp pass from John Stelacio. After Gwynedd briefly cut into the deficit, Immaculata answered with back-to-back goals from Brody Moore and Aaron Headley to take a 6–2 advantage into halftime.
• Immaculata seized full control in the third quarter, erupting for six goals in a span of less than 11 minutes. Headley and Moore each struck early in the period before Stelacio, Azzarano (man-up), and Brian Fuchs extended the lead to 11–2. Gwynedd Mercy managed a pair of goals late in the quarter, but Frame closed the quarter with another goal to make it 12–4 heading into the final period.
• The fourth quarter saw the Macs continue to dictate play. Gorman added his second goal of the game early in the period, and Frame capped the scoring with his second tally off a Gorman assist. Immaculata would go on to close out the 14-4 victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ludlow: 17 Saves, 12 GB
• Azzarano: 3 goals, 2 assists
• Gorman: 2 goals, 2 assists
• Smaron: 1 goal, 2 assists.
• Frame: 2 goals
• Headley: 2 goals
• Moore: 2 goals
• Panowitz: 3 GB, 3 CT
• Avalos: 1 goal, 2 GB, 3 CT
• Rhoades & Wolk: 2 GB, 1 CT
• Alvarez: 2 CT

IUMLAX: Immaculata held a 4–2 edge midway through the second quarter when Matthew Ludlow delivered this stop, one of 17 saves in a standout performance.#RollMacs #DefendTheDome pic.twitter.com/XQH1nDsMVK

— Immaculata Athletics (@IUMightyMacs) April 25, 2026

 

UP NEXT

• Immaculata advances to the AEC championship game hosted by Marymount next weekend. Go to gomightymacs.com for the most updated information.