Seahawks soar past Monks

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Junior Chad Hollenshade (Lutherville, Md.) tied a 15-year old single game program record with five assists to add to his three goals to lead the Salve Regina men's lacrosse team to a dominating 15-4 win over Saint Joseph's (Maine), Tuesday afternoon.

The Seahawks flew out of the gate and never looked back, scoring four times on the opening frame and holding the Monks scoreless over18:47, crossing into the second quarter.

Senior Francis McNulty (Durham, Conn.) kicked off the scoring for the Seahawks with 11:06 to play in the opening frame as Hollenshade gave him a quick feed in front of the cage to put Salve Regina up, 1-0.

Freshman Jacob Pantani (Branford, Conn.) scored his first of goal the game at the 5:41 mark before Hollenshade followed with one of his own off the ensuing face off. With 4:30 to play, senior Taylor Braun (Commack, N.Y.) pushed Salve Regina's lead to 4-0 with his fifth of the year off Hollenshade's second assist.

Hollenshade added his second of the game 2:21 into the second quarter after taking a pass from sophomore Steven Russell (Bayport, N.Y.) to extend the Seahawk lead, 5-0.

The Salve Regina defense held tough through the wind and rain and did not allow a Monk goal until the 6:13 mark in the second quarter. Senior Bryan Johnson (Brookline, N.H.) took a pass from senior goalie Christopher Driscoll (Saco, Maine) to successfully clear the ball himself and beat the Seahawk freshman goalie Brian Farina (Jenkintown, Pa.) to his right to get the Monks on the board, 5-1.

Salve Regina answered with two more to end the half, one from Pantani and sophomore James O'Brien (Oyster Bay, N.Y.), each assisted by Hollenshade.

The Seahawks opened the second half, just as they did in the first, with a flurry of goals and holding the Monks to an extended scoreless streak. Pantani scored a pair of goals in the first five minutes before Braun, freshman Cam Brazill (Ridgewood, N.J.), before Pantani netted his fifth and final goal of the game at the 9:08 mark.

The Monks were held scoreless for 18:25, spanning both the second and third quarter when sophomore Andrew Sullivan (Rochester, N.H.) scored his first of two goals off a pass from sophomore Dalton Eldridge (South Gardiner, Maine). The Seahawks pushed its lead to 15-2 with three straight goals to cap the third quarter. Hollenshade put the finishing touches on his eight-point performance with his third goal game off Pantani's first assist of the game. Brazill and senior James Dillon (Jupiter, Fla.) scored the Seahawks final two goals of the game in the final two minutes of the third quarter.

Sullivan scored his second and freshman Austin Watts (Westbrook, Maine) scored the Monks final two goals in the fourth quarter to cut the score to 15-4, in favor of Salve Regina.

The Seahawks dominated the ground ball game, picking up 53 to the Monks 21. McKeon lead all players with 11 on the day to push his season total to 50. McKeon was excellent at the X for Salve Regina, winning 15 of 18 face offs, helping the Seahawks to a 19 of 22 day on the face off.

Farina made two saves in goal, earning his first collegiate win in the cage.

Salve Regina returns to action when the Seahawks host Mt. St. Vincent on Friday, March 15. The opening faceoff is set for 5 p.m. at Gaudet Field.