The Maritime College men's lacrosse team kicked off the 2021 season in a big way as they traveled to Mount Saint Mary and pulled out a 10-9 victory behind a solid defensive effort and a big six-goal run in the first half.

The Privateers came out of the gates a little rusty as they allowed a quick goal in the first quarter and then a second goal with two minutes to trail 2-0 early on. However, the deficit woke the offense up as they scored two goals in the final thirty seconds of the first quarter. With 26 seconds left, Brian Drost (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham-Wading River) put Maritime on the board while Bryan Keegan (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) picked up the assist. Kevin Buser (Babylon, NY/) then earned the crucial ensuing face-off and Patrick Schnell (Jericho, NY/Jericho) scored an unassisted goal with six seconds left.

The momentum from the final thirty seconds of the first quarter proved to be a deciding factor in the game as the Privateers went on to score the next four goals to open the second quarter and take a 6-2 lead. Jason Corvi (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) scored two of the goals with one being in a man-up situation while Keegan scored the other two. Both of Keegan's goals were unassisted and he assisted on the first of Corvi's goals while fellow captain Kyle Orton (Lewes, DE/Cape Henlopen) assisted the other.

Maritime wasn't done scoring in the second quarter as they added three more goals before half. Mike Leake (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) found Garrett Vincent (Tequesta, Fla./Jupiter Community) for a goal with five minutes left in the second quarter and then scored one himself less than two minutes later. Keegan concluded the first half scoring with 2:20 left and the Privateers took a 9-4 lead into halftime. 

Unfortunately, Maritime couldn't keep that offensive pressure going in the second half as Collin Flannery (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) scored the only goal of the second half. Luckily, Kyle Bockelman (Melville, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) and the defense stepped up in a big way and held on for the 10-9 Skyline Conference win. Bockelman picked up 12 saves in goal for the win, while the defense caused 12 turnovers compared to just five caused turnovers by the Knights. The Privateers also won ground balls by a margin of 35-27. Keegan led the offensive effort with five points, while Leake and Corvi each chipped in two.

The Privateers will look to keep their winning ways going next week as they return to Reinhart Field for a matchup against Manhattanville College.