SCRANTON, P.A. – The Maritime College men's lacrosse team jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the opening quarter of its first contest of the 2020 campaign on Saturday afternoon, and continued to pour on the goals as the Privateers picked up the 19-6 win over Marywood University at Pacers Field.
 
Maritime was led by junior Matt DeMeo (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville), who finished with seven goals, while upperclassmen Mike Leake (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) and Danny Connell (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) both added six points in the win, Leake with three goals and three assists, and Connell with five assists and a goal. Junior Bryan Keegan (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) chipped in two goals and two assists as well. The Skyline Conference preseason poll's top team displayed their depth as 11 different players recorded a point.
 
Junior defender Kevin Buser (Babylon, NY/) led in ground balls as he scooped up seven, while Joey Manno (Port Washington, N.Y./Paul D. Schreiber) and DeMeo each had four loose ball pickups.
Ryan Droluk (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) led the defensive effort with three caused turnovers, while nine other Privateers had at least one forced turnover on the afternoon.
 
In goal, junior Kyle Bockelman (Melville, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) stopped six shots on target while yielding the six Pacer goals to earn the win. James Walsh (Mahopac, NY/Lakeland) and Nick Pasco (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) also spent time in goal, with Walsh recording four saves and Pasco picking up a save too.
 
The Privateers were on the scoreboard early and often with DeMeo scoring two goals in the first two minutes of action. Maritime tacked on seven more goals in the first period, including freshman Connor Buschle's (Bellport, NY/St. John the Baptist) first of his career, off an assist from Connell. In the second quarter, Alex Ellis (Massapequa, NY/Kellenberg Memorial) and Connell both scored unassisted goals, while DeMeo found the back of the net for the fourth time in the half with 2:40 remaining to give Maritime the commanding 12-3 lead.
 
Coming out of the halftime break, the Privateers continued to find success attacking the goal, as they added three goals in the third, and four goals in the final frame, to secure the 19-6 victory.

Up next, Maritime hosts Drew University on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in their home opener. To learn more about the expectations for the 2020 season for Maritime men's lacrosse, check out their season preview article and video.