GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny men's lacrosse team moved to 2-0 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) as they dispatched Thiel 23-9 Wednesday (April 3) on the road.
 
Anthony DeMarco (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted Falls) broke two program records in the game by going 31-of-36 on faceoffs and collecting 17 groundballs. The 23 goals for the Gators also ties a program best offensive output.
 
The Gators got on the board quickly. After reigning PAC Specialist of the Week DeMarco won the opening faceoff, Jack Cushwa (Martinsburg, W. Va./Martinsburg) scored an unassisted goal. Two minutes later, Gideon Sullivan (Getzville, N.Y./Cathedral (Ind.)) found the back of the net to increase the lead to 2-0. The Tomcats fought back with two straight goals to tie the game, but the Gators responded in a big way. The final nine minutes of the frame belonged to Allegheny as they closed the quarter on a 6-0 run. Alex Crespo (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) scored two of those goals, the second of which was assisted by DeMarco right after a faceoff win. Sullivan scored his second goal of the game during the run while JP Rakis (Kensington, Md./Walter Johnson), CT Graniel (Scranton, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) and Aidan D'Amato (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) also scored.
 
Sullivan completed his hat trick early in the second quarter, assisted by Nick Gralewski (Meadville, Pa./Meadville). DeMarco won the ensuing faceoff and quickly raced down the field to score. The goal marked the first of his career. Thiel responded with three straight goals to cut the lead to 10-5, but once again, the Gators ended the frame on a high note. This time, the Gators tallied the final five goals of the half. Crespo scored two of those goals as he recorded his first career hat trick. D'Amato, Sullivan and Gralewski scored the other three goals as Allegheny led 15-5 at the break.
 
The Gators continued to roll, outscoring the Tomcats 6-2 in the third. Rakis scored half of the goals in the quarter for Allegheny. Cushwa had two goals for his hat trick while Graniel had his second as the lead grew to 21-7. 
 
Allegheny concluded the game with two more goals in the fourth. Rakis netted his fifth goal, assisted by Alexander Vincent (Yardley, Pa./Pomfret School (Conn.)), before Akari Brown (Alexandria, Va./Bishop O'Connell) tallied his first career goal.
 
Inside the Box

• Rakis led the offense with a career-high five goals with two assists. 
• Crespo had a career-high with six points on four goals and two assists. He also had four groundballs.
• Sullivan (4G), Cushwa (3G, 1A) and Gralewski (1G, 3A) all had four points.
• D'Amato and Graniel had two goals each.
• Brown had a goal and Vincent had an assist.
• DeMarco set program records by going 31-of-36 on faceoffs and scooping up 17 groundballs. Additionally, he recorded his first career goal and assist.
• Cassady Bouthet (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) had a team-high six caused turnovers while collecting five groundballs.
• Griffin Cates (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) also had five groundballs.
• Garin Stearns (Hudson, Ohio/Revere) picked up the win in net, making seven saves.

News and Notes

• The win moves the Gators to 2-0 in PAC play this season.
• Allegheny is now 3-0 all-time against Thiel.
• DeMarco tallied both his first career goal and assist. He also set program records with 31 faceoff wins and 17 groundballs. The 31 faceoff wins is tied for the 16th most all-time in a Division III game.
• Crespo had his first career hat trick.
• Rakis scored a career-high five goals.
• Brown had his first career goal.
• Vincent recorded his first assist.
• The 23 goals tied a program record. 

Up Next
The Gators are back in Meadville Saturday (April 6) to host Westminster in PAC action.