Worcester, Mass. (March 5) -- Assumption tallied nine goals in the second half after leading just 3-2 at the halftime break as the Greyhounds powered past visiting Clark University by a 12-6 final on Saturday afternoon at Multi-Sport Stadium. The non-conference matchup was the season opener for both teams. The Greyhounds held the Cougars on eight extra-man opportunities, while converting on three of their own.
The Greyhounds got on the board midway thru the first quarter as Nicholas Violandi (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) converted the man-up opportunity for the 1-0 lead. Senior Will Langevin (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle) extended the lead to 2-0 moments later before the Cougars ended the period with two goals in a 26-second span to tie things up at 2-2. Chris Johnson and Phil Winslow were the goal scorers for the Cougars, with both coming at even strength. Assumption senior John Murphy (Walpole, Mass./Bridgton Academy) provided the only offense of the second quarter as he took a pass from sophomore Connor MacNeil (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) for his first of two goals on the afternoon. MacNeil ended the game for the Greyhounds with a game-high five assists.
Four different goal scorers found the back of the net in the third quarter for the Greyhounds, including a man-up goal from junior Alejandro Ruiz (Dover, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) that made it 7-2 with 6:28 left in the period. Nick Figliola scored for the Cougars to make it a 7-3 margin after three, on his way to a three-goal afternoon.
The teams traded goals over the first six minutes of the fourth quarter before the Greyhounds tallied three times in 1:49 to make it 12-5 with 7:03 remaining in the game. Chris Johnson scored his second goal of the game, assisted on by Winslow, to account for the 12-6 final.
Senior netminder Scott Vogel (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy-Liberty) made 12 saves in the victory for Assumption, while Andrew DeVito made four saves for the Cougars in the defeat.
Assumption is now 1-0 overall, while Clark drops to 0-1. The Greyhounds are back in action on Thursday, March 10th as the team travels to Arizona to take on Grand Canyon University in a 9 p.m. Eastern start. Assumption wraps up the trip on Saturday, March 12th as the Hounds meet Adams State, at Grand Canyon University.
