MEADVILLE, Pa. -- On Saturday afternoon, the Allegheny College men's lacrosse team celebrated Senior Day with a one-sided 23-5 victory over Franciscan University at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.

After recognizing their seven seniors from the Class of 2024, the Gators (9-6, 7-1 PAC) closed the regular season with an impressive performance in all phases of the game against the Barons (10-7, 3-5 PAC).

A dozen Gators found the back of the net as the Allegheny offense exploded for 23 goals, tying a program single-game record. After JP Rakis (Kensington, Md./Walter Johnson) netted the team's first goal at 13:39 in the opening quarter, the Blue and Gold rolled out to an insurmountable lead with a 9-0 run that continued into the second quarter. Allegheny's first goal was the first of a team-record 10 points for Rakis, who finished with a hat trick and a program-record seven assists.

Five different scorers earned hat tricks, including Logan Sharp (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted Falls), Aidan D'Amato (Tolland, Conn./Tolland), Nick Gralewski (Meadville, Pa./Meadville), and Gideon Sullivan (Getzville, N.Y./Cathedral (Ind.)). Additionally, Pete Schellbach (New York, N.Y./Salisbury School), Alex Crespo (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop), Jack Cushwa (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg), and CT Graniel (Scranton, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) all had two points.

Three days after the Barons dropped 25 goals against Bethany College, the Gator defense suffocated the Franciscan offense. Five goals are the second-fewest scored in a game by the Barons, who tied a season-high with 31 turnovers. Fourth-year defenseman Cassady Bouthet (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) followed Franciscan's 100-point attackman, Joseph James, like a shadow and limited him to just one goal. Bouthet also collected a program-record seven caused turnovers.

Inside the Box Score

• Allegheny scored 23 goals on 73 total shots, while the Barons were limited to five markers on 37 shots.
• The Gators outpaced Franciscan in ground balls (62-to-40), faceoff wins (23-to-9), and caused turnovers (17-to-7).
• Rakis (3g-7a) led all scorers with 10 points.
• Sharp (3g-3a) produced a career-high six points.
• D'Amato (3g-2a), Gralewski (3g-1a), and Sullivan (3g) also had hat tricks.
• Crespo scored twice to round out Allegheny's multi-goal performers.
• Anthony DeMarco (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted Falls) won 22-of-30 faceoffs, picked up 13 ground balls, and scored once.
• Bouthet caused seven turnovers, followed by LSM Konrad Homiak (Hampstead, N.C./Topsail) with three.
• Garin Stearns (Hudson, Ohio/Revere) stopped 16 shots and collected four ground balls in goal for Allegheny.
• Franciscan goalie Richard Vale II scored once during Allegheny's 10-man ride, made 25 saves, picked up 13 ground balls, and caused seven turnovers.

News and Notes

• Before Saturday's contest, Allegheny honored senior Graham Nash (Innisfil, Ont./Nantyr Shores), Garrett Danielson (Kettering, Ohio,/Kettering-Fairmont), Schellbach, Sharp, Gralewski, Bouthet, and D'Amato.
• Allegheny concludes the 2024 regular season with a team-record nine wins.
• The Gators tied a team record for goals in a game with 23, the second time they've reached that mark this spring.
• For the second time this season, Rakis set individual records for points (10) and assists.
• With 63 points on the season, Rakis set a new single-season record, surpassing D'Amato's 55 from last year.
• DeMarco is the first-ever Gator to collect 100 at least 100 ground balls and win more than 200 faceoffs in a season.

Up Next
As the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Tournament, Allegheny will host a semifinal matchup on Wednesday, May 1, at 4:00 p.m.