RIVERDALE, NY – The Marist men's lacrosse team punched its ticket to the MAAC Championships with a decisive 13-9 victory over Manhattan on Saturday evening at Gaelic Park.
With the win, Marist improved to 7-4 overall and 5-1 in MAAC play, officially securing a postseason berth.
Marist's offense was powered by a balanced attack, led by Collin Patrick's hat trick and four-point performance. Steven Cain (2G, 2A) and Peter Murray (5 assists) played key roles in orchestrating the Red Foxes' scoring surge, while Brady Dolan and Sean Mullan each added two goals apiece.
The game opened with a back-and-forth first half, as Marist held a narrow 3-2 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 4-2 early in the second. However, Manhattan responded with three straight goals to take a 5-4 lead late in the half, putting the Red Foxes on their heels heading into the break.
Marist answered emphatically in the third quarter.
After Josh Smith tied the game at 5-5 just seconds into the half, the Red Foxes erupted for a five-goal period. Goals from Dolan, Jayce Konowitz, and Patrick highlighted a dominant stretch that flipped the momentum and gave Marist a commanding 9-5 advantage heading into the final quarter.
The Red Foxes continued to apply pressure in the fourth, extending their lead to as much as five goals. Patrick capped his hat trick late in the game, while Cain added a goal in the closing minutes to seal the victory.
Defensively, Marist received a solid performance from goalkeeper Richie Metzger, who recorded nine saves in the win. The Red Foxes also capitalized on strong possession play, converting 23 of 25 clear attempts and winning key faceoffs throughout the contest.
Marist will be back in action on Saturday, April 18, when the Red Foxes play host to Sacred Heart inside Tenney Stadium at 1 PM.
