Lynchburg, VA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's lacrosse team was back in action on its Spring Break trip on Saturday, as they took on Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA. The Panthers jumped all over the WildCats early, taking a 10-0 halftime lead. They eased to the finish, tacking on 2 goals while allowing just one in a 12-1 final score.
Pitt-Bradford needed just 7 seconds to open the scoring as Austyn Stack won the opening draw and quickly fed Luke Amberman, who whipped a shot into the top corner. The hosts grabbed control next, using a 1-minute penalty to take three shots that nearly scored. HunterShank stopped the first, and then had the next two hit the post to keep Randolph off the board. After a few minutes of exchanged possession, the Panthers doubled their lead with 5:28 remaining. With a Randolph player coming out of the box, David De La Teja faked a shot to draw in a pair of defenders and slipped a pass to Amberman, who once again put a shot from the wing into the far corner to double his tally.
The Panthers rallied after the second, scoring two more times within a minute, and four times in the last 5 mintues of the quarter. After AJ Nardi put a shot off the side netting, Mikey Blake picked up the loose ball behind the goal and found Jaden Freeland in front of an open net. Freeland caught the quick pass and fired into the goal to put the Panthers up 3-0. Stack had a clean win on the ensuing faceoff and immediately pushed the Panthers into attack. He found Amberman on the wing, who drew in a defender and dropped a pass off to Logan Watts next to the goal. Watts collected the pass and beat the goalie from close range for his first of the game. 90 seconds later, Amberman completed his hat-trick. The freshman attacker collected a pass, took a hit, and faked a shot to beat his defender and score. Before the quarter ended, Watts would strike again. Nick Hause picked up a ground ball behind the net and passed to Joe Lefurge on the run. LEfurge sprang the counterattack, finding Blake on the wing. Blake passed to Amberman in the middle of the field, who dropped another pass to Watts next to the goal.
In the second quarter, the Panthers controlled early possession and added ot their lead after 2 minutes of action. Reid Kristufek picked up a ground ball in the defensive end and sprinted into the attacking third. He found Blake open on the right wing, who deposited a shot into the goal to put the Panthers up 7. Neither team was able to score for the next 10 minutes, as Hunter Shank made 2 saves for the Panthers.
Pitt-Bradford once again closed the quarter on the front foot, scoring 3 times in the last two minutes. Sam Kemp picked up a ground ball and started a counter, eventually pulling in defenders and finding Amberman at the top of the zone. For the third time, Amberman passed to Watts, who bounced a shot under the goalie for his third of the game. Stack started another rush off a faceoff win and passed to Watts on the left flank. Watts scanned the field and found Blake wide open on the back side for an easy finish. In the final seconds of the half, De La TEja picked up a loose ball in front of the net and whipped a shot to the goal, finding the corner to give the Panthers a 10-0 lead at the break.
After the half, the Panthers' offense slowed, as they were limited to just 2 goals in the final 30 minutes. With 11 minutes left in the third, Watts made it 11, scoring with a WildCat in the box. From behind the net, Blake passed to Watts, who fired a sharp-angled shot high into the net for his fourth of the game. The Panthers were kept off the scoreboard for the remainder of the period, and then in the fourth, allowed Randolph to open the scoring with 5 minutes left. The Panthers had one final answer, as Christian Beasley got on the score sheet with 3:48 to go. Amberman forced a turnover as the WildCats attempted to clear the zone, and then sprang into attack, finding Brasley open in front of the goal. Besley caught the pass with no defenders near him and easily beat the goalie to score the Panthers' 12th.
Logan Watts led the Panthers with 4 goals on 8 shots in the game. He also added an assist and 2 ground balls. Luke Amberman scored a first-quarter hat-trick and then turned provider, assisting on 4 Pitt-Bradford goals. Mikey Blake scored twice, while Jaden Freeland, David De La Teja, and Christian Beasley all added goals. Hunter Shank finished with 12 saves in the win.
The victory moves Pitt-Bradford to 6-2 on the season. They will return home for the final three games of the Month. They will begin with a home match against Goucher on Wednesday, Mar. 18th. The opening draw is set for 5:00 p.m.
