Defense lifts MLAX to 8-3 win at St. Bonaventure

Box Score (PDF)

ST. BONAVENTURE, New York – Goalie Caleb Creasor made 11 saves and the Marquette University men's lacrosse team pulled away for an 8-3 victory over St. Bonaventure at the Mara Athletics Field Complex on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles (4-5) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and built an 8-2 advantage before the Bonnies netted a final tally as time expired in the fourth quarter. Prior to that score, the stout MU defense held St. Bonaventure off the scoreboard for 31 minutes of game time, including a shutout in the third quarter.

USILA All-American Mason Woodward contributed four ground balls and as many caused turnovers, while Max Kruszeski and Mike Piraino each forced SBU into a pair of turnovers.

MU freshman Carsen Brandt got the day's scoring started with a pair of goals in the opening five minutes, while Luke Blanc and Devon Cowan each added consecutive tallies in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.

The Bonnies (1-6) were led in scoring by Jake Kucinski's two goals and goalie Cristofero Cucciffo made 12 saves.

NOTABLE:

Marquette leads the all-time series with St. Bonaventure, 2-0, and owns wins over the Bonnies in each of the last two seasons.
Saturday was Woodward's fourth career game with at least four caused turnovers.
MU posted its fourth-lowest goals allowed mark in program history. It would have been the second-lowest mark if the Bonnies did not score with time expiring.
Cowan now has 98 career goals and is two from becoming just the third MU player to reach 100.
Creasor's fifth double digit save effort of the year.
The game marks MU's first trip to western New York state.
Luke Williams won 11-of-14 faceoffs and picked up eight ground balls for MU. His 11 faceoff wins ties the season-best mark he set against Utah on March 2.
MU held SBU off the scoreboard for the first 17:45 of game play and then forced the Bonnies into a scoreless drought from their second goal with one minute remaining in the second quarter until time expired in regulation.

UP NEXT: Following Saturday's action, the Golden Eagles continue their season-long five game road swing and begin BIG EAST Conference play on Saturday, March 30 at St. John's.

Keep up with the Marquette men's lacrosse program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteMLax) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMLax).