The Salisbury University men’s lacrosse team nabbed its fourth win of the campaign as it knocked off the United States Coast Guard Academy 22-8.
The Sea Gulls (4-0) put on an offensive showcase against the Bears (2-2), recording their second-highest scoring effort of the season. The 22-goal mark is second only to their win over Berry in the season-opening, 27-3 victory.
Salisbury outshot Coast Guard 62-28 in the contest. Senior midfielder and face-off specialist Brett Malamphy continued his career success at the X, going 16-of-19.
Head coach Jim Berkman said he was happy with Malamphy’s success and how he set up Salisbury with opportunities throughout the game.
“Brett [Malamphy] was winning all the face-offs,” Berkman said. “It definitely helps your team and starts the offense.”
Junior attacker Cross Ferrara had one of his best games of his Salisbury career. He led the offense with six goals on the day, tying his career high.
“We adjust and adapt,” Ferrara said. “Everyone plays their roles, and everything works out.”
The Sea Gulls started the first quarter rather slow, but soon woke up with a flurry of goals led by Ferrara.
In just under five minutes, the Sea Gulls turned a 1-0 sluggish start into a 5-1 lead.
Sophomore midfielder Isaac Thrasher, senior attacker Josh Melton, junior midfielder Jarrett Bromwell and Ferrara each chipped in to a 7-3 Sea Gull lead at the end of the first quarter.
The offense continued scoring in the second quarter.
Senior attacker Griffin Moroney, senior attacker Pierre Armstrong, senior midfielder Brad Greik, sophomore midfielder Logan Posner and Melton scored in the second quarter for the Salisbury. Melton led the offense with two of the six second-quarter goals scored as the teams went to halftime with a 13-3 lead.
Melton would finish the game with a game-high 10 points comprised of four goals and six assists.
The second half carried much of the same story for both sides.
In the third quarter, Salisbury maintained its offensive prowess and continued causing problems for the Bears defense.
Melton, Moroney, Armstrong, Ferrara and junior attacker Gavin Dembeck each scored a goal to extend the lead to 18-5.
The Sea Gull offense slowed down a bit with several new faces entering the game, but still put several shots on goal. Ferrara, junior attacker Ryan Brown and sophomore attacker Josh Sanchez scored to give the Sea Gulls the win, 22-8.
Sanchez had a highlight goal with his behind-the-back shot that served as Salisbury’s grand finale offensively.
Sanchez said that he was not sure if it would go in as he shot the ball.
“I didn’t know if it went in while I shot it,” Sanchez said. “I ran out of angles. The defense was all over me. I just put up a shot and hoped it would go in. We’ll watch the tape and see if it was top-ten worthy.”
The Sea Gulls hit the road for a matchup with Stevens University on Wednesday. They follow that up with a neutral site battle against Ohio Wesleyan University on Sunday at US Lacrosse’s Tierney Field in Sparks, Md.
Berkman said that the team's upcoming opponents have a play style not unlike Salisbury, but he is confident in his team.
“They are similar to us,” Berkman said. “They have strong players and play a similar game, but as long as we stick to our game plan, we will be fine.”
By ERIC DAY
Staff writer
Featured photo: Brad Boardman image.