MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny men's lacrosse team broke several program records as they defeated Elmira 24-3 in a non-conference contest Saturday (March 29) in Meadville.
 
JP Rakis (Kensington, Md./Walter Johnson) continued to rewrite the program record books as he set new program highs with 13 points and 11 assists in the game. He also surpassed the program's career point record of 140 that was set by Aidan D'Amato. After today's game, Rakis has 143 career points. The Gators also set a program record for goals in a game, surpassing their previous best of 23 goals, which was achieved three times. They also tied a single game record with 31 faceoff wins.
 
The Gators got out to a quick start, outscoring the Soaring Eagles 10-0 in the first. Alex Crespo (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) had a hat trick in the frame, with two unassisted goals. Jack Cushwa (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) had a pair of goals. Rakis had a goal while assisting on six scores. JaMier Hopkins (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward), Jack Brandstatter (Lafayette, Colo./Dawson School), Konrad Homiak (Hampstead, N.C./Topsail) and CT Graniel (Scranton, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) also found the back of the net.
 
Allegheny scored eight more goals in the second to increase their lead to 18-0 by halftime. Rakis broke both the records in the frame scoring a goal with four more assists. Crespo and Rippole scored twice in the frame while Cushwa and Tomi Horsley (Salt Lake City, Utah/Brighton) also had a goal apiece.
 
The Gators outgained the Eagles Eagles once more in the third, 3-2. Cushwa, Rippole and Horsley scored in between the Elmira goals as the lead reached 21-2 heading into the fourth.
 
The fourth quarter saw three more Gators goals and one by Elmira as the Gators wrapped up the 24-3 win.
 
Inside the Box

• Rakis led the Gators with a program record 13 points, 11 assists and two goals. He also had five ground balls and two caused turnovers.
• Crespo tallied seven points with six goals and an assist. He also had four ground balls.
• Horsley found the back of the net five times with an assist.
• Cushwa and Rippole both had five points apiece with Rippole tallying a hat trick.
• Graniel had a goal and two assists.
• Anthony DeMarco (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted Falls) went a perfect 30-of-30 on faceoffs, just one win shy of a program record and the most a Gator has won in a game without losing any. He also collected 17 ground balls, tied for the second most in a game.
• Liam Kruck (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin), Hopkins and Griffin Cates (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) also had five ground balls each.
• Garin Stearns (Hudson, Ohio/Revere) earned the win in net, making a pair of saves.
• Isaac Michalek (Buffalo, N.Y./East Aurora) played the second half in goal, making two saves.

News and Notes

• This marks the first meeting between the programs.
• Rakis set single game records with 13 points and 11 assists while taking over the top spot in career points with 143.
• Hopkins scored his first goal as a Gator.
• The Gators set a program record with 24 goals and tied a program record with 31 faceoff wins.

Up Next
The Gators remain at home Wednesday (April 2) to host Saint Vincent in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action.