Center Valley, PA (March 26, 2007) –­ Sophomore Matthew Brancaccio (Greenvale, NY/North Shore) scored five goals and added two assists in leading the DeSales University men’s lacrosse team past Susquehanna University, 13-12, in an MAC Conference game on Sunday afternoon at Fasching Fields.

 

        DSU (5-2, 1-1 MAC) earns its second straight win and its fifth win in the last six games, while the Crusaders fall to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the MAC.  DSU jumped out to a 5-1 lead early in the game before SU stormed back to tie the game at six at the half. 

 

        Leading 12-9 midway thru the fourth period, the Crusaders scored two quick extra man goals to pull within one but sophomore Danny Larkin (Holladay, UT/Olympus) scored off an assist from freshman Adam Eddinger (Bally, PA/Boyertown) to put DSU back up two goals with 2:38 remaining and the Bulldogs held on for the win.

 

        Brancaccio was terrific for the Bulldogs scoring five times and adding two assists for seven points.  Eddinger had one of his finest games in a DSU uniform scoring three times and adding two assists, while D. Larkin and junior Dan Thomer (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) each totaled two goals.  Sophomore Joshua Van Hart (Glen Gardner, NJ/Voorhees) added one goal and D. Larkin also contributed an assist to round out the scoring.

 

        Freshman Jarryd Stamatelos (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) was very impressive in between the pipes stopping 15 shots.  Senior Jon-Erik Stamatelos (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) had a team-high seven ground balls in the win.

 

        DSU did an excellent job on extra-man opportunities, converting 5-of-12 chances.  The Bulldogs were out-shot 47-39 and both teams picked up 44 ground balls in a very evenly played game.  Junior Sam Gobeli (Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Curley) had another strong game on face-offs winning 15-of-26 for DeSales.