Box Score EDWARDSVILLE (PA) – In just its second year as an intercollegiate sport, the Delaware Valley University men's lacrosse team has clinched a berth in the upcoming Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom tournament thanks to a 16-5 victory over host Wilkes University on Wednesday.
 
The victory improved the Aggies to 8-6 overall and, more importantly, 4-2 in MAC Freedom action. That triumph, along with Eastern's University 9-3 win over FDU-Florham, put an asterisk next to DelVal's name on the conference standings, signifying a conference postseason berth.
 
The Aggies were picked sixth in the coaches' preseason poll. Instead, they will head to either four-time defending champion Eastern or DeSales University for a MAC Freedom semifinal game next Wednesday, May 4. The final positioning will be determined by Saturday's regular-season finales, including DelVal's trip to Misericordia University. DelVal is currently in third place, one game ahead of FDU-Florham and one and half games up on Misericordia (which plays later tonight). Meanwhile, Eastern and DeSales are both 6-0 in league play and will battle for first place on Saturday. The top four teams qualify for the MAC Freedom tournament with the eventual champion earning an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
 
The journey to this spot began in June of 2013 when it was announced that men's lacrosse and four other sports would be added at DelVal. Two months later, Gary Mercadante was hired as head coach and the first year was spent recruiting and building the program. Last year's inaugural season saw the Aggies finish 5-8 overall and 1-5 in the MAC Freedom. That experience and another strong recruiting class helped result in at least a three-game improvement and extended play into May.
 
"We're really excited to be in this position in just year number two," Mercadante said. "It's a testament to the players and their commitment to the process. And not only is a credit to them but also to our assistant coaches (Graig Gallo and Phil Hess) and all of the hard work and time that they put in.

"We still have a lot of work to do, but today is an exciting day in the young history of our program."
 
DelVal dominated play against the first-year Colonels (0-14, 0-16) as they set a program record with 61 shots in the contest. The Aggies also had a 44-17 advantage in ground balls and won 21 of 25 faceoffs.
 
Wilkes struck first, but DelVal took the lead for good midway through the first quarter as Matt Brady scored a pair of goals just 45 seconds apart. Austin Sensenig added a tally late in the quarter and the Aggies then connected on the first four goals – from four different players – of the second for a 7-1 advantage. The Colonels ended the half with two tallies in the final nine seconds, to make it a four-goal contest.
 
Brady picked up his fourth goal of the game to start the second stanza, but it was matched just a minute later. DelVal then made it 10-4 as Tommy Locke and Cori Grobes each found the back of the net. Wilkes cut into its deficit with a Matthew Bush goal, but the Aggies responded with the final six goals for the 16-5 final.
 
Eleven different players found the back of the net for DelVal, including Brady who had a career-high four goal. He has now connected on nine goals over the last three conference games. Nick Shendge had three tallies while Grobes, Locke, Sensenig, Chris Coyle, Patsy Davis, Chris Johnsen, Alex McKenzie, Jordan Smith and Matt Tordone added one apiece. Sensenig and leading scorer PJ Rafferty assisted on two goals each. Tordone was dominant in the faceoff circle as he took all 25 attempts and lost just four. He also grabbed a program-record 12 ground balls.
 
Wilkes was led by JT Weitzel's two points. Brian Manning and John Malley combined for 22 saves in the loss.