READING (PA)--- The Delaware Valley men's lacrosse team traveled to Albright College on Saturday for a non-conference matchup and came home with their first win of the season, 16-13, in a tightly contested affair from start to finish.
Albright scored the game's first two goals in less than three minutes to take a 2-0 lead. Lucien St. Onge brought the Aggies to within one with under four minutes to go in the first quarter, but the host Lions netted the final two goals of the first quarter, the second with eight seconds left, to take a 4-1 lead into the second quarter.
DelVal quickly got right back into the game, as Brett Ziegler and Chris Dearden each scored early in the second to cut the deficit to 4-3. Albright responded with a goal, but Ziegler and Dearden scored consecutive goals again midway through the frame to even the score at five. After Albright took a 6-5 advantage, Nick Nardini tied it up with five minutes left in the first half and Dearden scored his third goal of the game with 1:04 left in the half to take a 7-6 lead. Albright was able to send the game tied at 7-7 into halftime with a tally in the final three seconds.
Dearden wasted no time getting the offense going in the second half, as he scored his fourth goal of the game just 35 seconds in to put DelVal in front 8-7. Albright scored the next two goals to take a 9-8 lead with 7:51 left in the quarter. Francis Rose didn't' let that lead last for long, as the senior scored two goals in a six second span to put the Aggies ahead 10-9. After the Lions scored with a man up tie even the score, St. Onge's second goal of the game with 2:42 left in the third put DelVal up 11-10 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Aggies extended their lead just over four minutes into the final frame, with Ziegler's third goal of the game to lead 12-10. Albright tied the game back up with 8:24 left after back-to-back goals. Tony Aguayo took the lead back quickly, scoring just 29 seconds later. With 5:29 left, DelVal had a man-up situation and Christopher Marren netted his first goal of the game, extending the lead to 14-12. The Lions kept up the pressure, clawing back to within one with 4:14 remaining. Marren then scored his second man-up goal of the game with 2:24 left and Ziegler topped it off with his fourth of the game with 1:58 left to secure the 16-13 win.
Chris Dearden and Brett Ziegler each had four goals to lead the Aggies, while Francis Rose, Lucien St. Onge and Christopher Marren each chipped in two.
The Lions were 23-for-24 on clear attempts, while the Aggies went 16-for-21, but DelVal won the ground ball battle 36-19.
Jim Murphy collected 10 saves in net for the Aggies, as he picked up the win.
The Aggies will host Kean University Wednesday, March 9th for a 7 p.m. start.
