HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker University men's lacrosse team took down Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 16-15 in thrilling non-conference action on Sunday (Feb. 23).
Embry-Riddle struck for the first goal of the game two minutes in, before Joe Venazio scored from Andrew Dappen less than four minutes in to tie the game. Embry-Riddle took a 2-1 lead less than two minutes later, before Matt Murphy scored from Dappen to tie the game yet again halfway through the first. Embry-Riddle would score two goals in less than a minute, before Ethan Irizarry would score man-up from Nicholas Maddox with 2:45 to go to get Coker within 4-3. Embry-Riddle would score one more time before the end of the period, taking a 5-3 lead to the second.
Coker would shut Embry-Riddle out in the second quarter to take an 11-5 lead to the half. Irizarry scored unassisted less than two minutes in, before Henry Haskett scored unassisted with less than nine minutes to play in the second. Venazio scored back-to-back goals from Murphy to put the Cobras ahead 7-5 with five minutes to play in the period, before Murphy scored from Emmanuel Adjaye 30 seconds later. Haskett would score unassisted yet again, before Maddox would core unassisted with three and a half minutes left. Irizarry would cap off the quarter and the first half with a goal from Maddox with three seconds.
Embry-Riddle came out in the second half and scored the first two goals less than a minute apart, before Haskett scored from Murphy just over four minutes into the quarter. Embry-Riddle scored another two consecutive goals, before Kaden Ross would score from Joe Venazio to keep the Cobras ahead 13-9 with five minutes to play in the third. Embry-Riddle would score two more times before the end of the third to leave Coker ahead 13-11 headed to the fourth.
The Eagles scored the first two goals in the first minute of the fourth quarter to tie the game, before Venazio scored from Maddox with 13 and a half minutes to play in the game. Embry-Riddle tied the game up with 11 minutes to play, before Ethan Irizarry scored unassisted with just under nine minutes to play to put the Cobras ahead 15-14. The Eagles would tie the game at 15 with 4:15 to play, before Haskett scored from Venazio with 3:19 to put the Cobras ahead for good.
Irizarry, Venazio and Haskett each scored four goals on the day, while Murphy also scored twice. Ross and Maddox each netted one goal in the victory. Murphy and Maddox each tallied three assists in the game, whileVenazio and Dappen each dished out two assists apiece. Adjaye also had one assist in the game. Coker totaled 28 ground balls in the game, led by six from Jason McNeany. Cory Gales, Dezmon Patten and Adjaye each picked up three ground balls, while five other Cobras each scooped up two. Three other Cobras each collected one ground ball on the afternoon. Coker caused nine turnovers on the day, led by two each from Venazio and McNeany. Five other Cobras forced turnovers on the afternoon. McNeany totaled a 17-34 day on faceoffs in the win. Chris Hagy (5-1) stopped 13 shots in the win for Coker.
The Cobras (5-1) are back in action on Mar. 4 at Montevallo in non-conference action. Opening faceoff is set for 4:00 p.m.
McDonald's Player of the Game - Joe Venazio