SAINTS OVERPOWER ALBERTUS MAGNUS, 20-9

NEW HAVEN, Conn. –Emmanuel College got a career-high seven-point game from sophomore Donnie Litzelman (Stratham, N.H.) en route to a 20-9 win over Albertus Magnus College on Saturday afternoon.  The win marked the seventh-straight for the visiting Saints, who improved to 9-4 on the season and a perfect 6-0 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.  Albertus Magnus fell to 1-10 on the season and 0-6 in the league.

Emmanuel got off to a slow start, allowing a pair of early Falcons' goals by Mike Choiniere.  Sophomore Tony Cibelli (Westboro, Mass.) and junior Chris Curtis (Ashland, Mass.) would then tie the contest at 2-all with under a minute to go in the first quarter.  Litzelman netted the go-ahead goal with just four seconds remaining in the quarter and EC took a 3-2 advantage.

Curtis and Albertus' Paul Mimina would trade goals early in the second and Emmanuel held its one-goal edge at 4-3.   A pair of second quarter goals from Litzelman, as well as another from Cibelli and one apiece from Jared Lucas (Gilford, N.H.) and Michael Donovan (Assonet, Mass.) gave Emmanuel a 9-4 lead at the half.

Despite a close game at the break, the Saints dominated the offense, firing off 35 shots to just 13 from the Falcons.  EC would continue its offensive dominance in the second half, finishing with a 65-22 shooting advantage on the day.

Emmanuel allowed a pair of goals in both the third and the fourth quarters, including three more markers from Choiniere, but the nine goals would cap the scoring for the host Falcons.

EC rookie Tyler Billick (Agawam, Mass.) scored twice in a 49 second window in the third quarter, to spark a 6-1 Emmanuel run and the Saints led 15-7 with one quarter to play.

Cibelli found the back of the net twice more in the fourth quarter to finish with four goals and an assist on the day.  With final goals from Justin Kelly (Collegeville, Pa.) and C.J. Galdorisi (Northport, N.Y.), the Saints finished the day on a 5-1 run and came away with the 20-9 win.

Lizelman's six goals was a career-high for the sophomore, who also dished out an assist and recorded two groundballs.  Curtis notched a hat-trick and dished out an assist.  Senior Jake Jaskolski (Saint Clair Shores, Mich.) scored once and dished out a helper, while junior Michael Rogers (New Haven, Conn.) handed out a team-high two assists while playing in his hometown.

Sophomores Sean Reilly (Deer Park, N.Y.) and Chris Baglivi (Mattituck, N.Y.) led Emmanuel with three groundballs each.  Senior Justin Byers (Indianapolis, Ind.) earned his first win of the season in goal for the Saints. Byers played the full game, making stops on seven Falcons' shots.

EC won 23/33 face-offs and forced 22 Albertus turnovers.  The Saints owned a 34-16 advantage in groundballs.

The Saints will return to action this Tuesday night, when Emmanuel welcomes Saint Joseph's College (Maine) for a 7:00 PM GNAC battle on Roberto Clemente Field.  The twelve seniors on the Emmanuel squad will be honored prior to the start of the game.