Behind Eight Points from Jon Killeen '10, Cards Set School Mark for Goals in a Game with 26-4 Romp

Wesleyan set a school record for goals in a game while equaling the figure for largest margin of victory in the college's 51-year men's lacrosse history as the Cardinals rolled past visiting SUNY Farmingdale by the surprising score of 26-4 Wed., March 17. The most goals previous by a Wesleyan squad came April 2, 1984 against the University of Hartford when the Cardinals established both the victory margin (22) and goal-scoring record in a 24-2 romp.

The recent contest was the fourth all-time meeting between Wesleyan and Farmingdale. While Wesleyan had won the previous three by a collective 47-13 differential, the greatest goal output by Wesleyan had been 16 and the largest margin of triumph had been 13.

Wesleyan got five goals and three assist from its top scorer Jon Killeen '10 (#7, photo by Tony Pratt P'10), who improved his seasonal figures to 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. In total, 20 different Wesleyan players factored into the scoring. John Froats '12 and Max Rosenman '13 each hat a hat trick while Max Landow '12 had four points on two goals and two assists. Nick Ajello '10 was the only other Cardinal with three points or more as he contributed two goals and an assist. All 45 active players for Wesleyan got into the game.

Wesleyan had a 52-19 edge in shots. The Cardinals rattled off 10 goals in the opening period and led 17-3 at halftime. The second half favored Wesleyan by a 9-1 count. Four Wesleyan goalies combined to make six stops. JD Dieterich '13, seeing his first action of the year, made two saves while not permitting a goal as he covered the net during the fourth quarter.

Wesleyan, ranked 16th by the USILA this week, had a huge challenge in its next outing, playing at NESCAC rival Middlebury Sat., March 20. Middlebury, ranked fifth nationally, defeated Wesleyan, 13-5, when they met in the NCAA Division III quarter-finals in Middletown last May. Wesleyan had beaten Middlebury by a goal during the regular season and in overtime during the NESCAC tournament semi-finals in 2009.

In the game March 20, the teams played to a 3-3 standoff through the first period. Middlebury then held Wesleyan scoreless for nearly 42 minutes while rattling off nine unanswered goals to build a 12-3 edge. The Cardinals netted the last two goals as both Killeen and Conor Malangone '11 put home their second of the game to make it a 12-5 final.

The shot totals were virtually even as the Panthers held a slim 35-33 advantage. But Middlebury's keepers came up with six more saves than the trio of Cardinal netminders and that was the difference in the contest. Colin Campbell '10 had the best effort in goal for Wesleyan with seven saves and five goals allowed in 31 minutes of work. Wesleyan had the better of it on ground balls (39-33) and cleared efficiently (16-of-19).

Wesleyan will play under the lights in a non-league game for its next outing, hosting the Merchant Marine Academy Wed., March 24.