HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's lacrosse team earned a hard-fought 9-8 win over visiting Gwynedd-Mercy, Saturday afternoon at Gibbel Stadium.
Aiden Duran totaled four goals, two ground balls, and a caused turnover. Beaux Wojciechowski totaled a goal and an assist, while Matt McCleary tallied two goals, an assist, four ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Brandon Simonini added a goal and two assists, with seven ground balls and a caused turnover. Vincent Bechler scored a goal to go with two ground balls and a caused turnover, while Kolton Black chipped in with an assist, a ground ball, and three caused turnovers. Reuben Stoll had a game-high four caused turnovers along with three ground balls. Heath Gamarel went 14-20 on face-offs, along with five ground balls. Justin Toney made 23 saves to get the win in goal.
The Griffins took control early with four goals in the opening 10 minutes as Juniata found themselves in a 4-1 hole early. Duran scored off a Black assist to tie things at 1-1 early before the visitors tallied the next three. McCleary got one back for JC inside the final two minutes when he forced a turnover, scooped the ball up, and headed the other way. He ran towards the Griffin goal, and when no one challenged him from 10 yards out, he ripped a shot that beat the keeper to make it 4-2. The Griffins struck one more to lead by three after one.
Three minutes into the second, Simonini scooped up a loose ball and sprinted the other way. He evaded a few red jerseys before placing the ball past the keeper to make it 5-3. Gwynedd-Mercy answered a few minutes later, but McCleary's second goal (off a Simonini assist) and a Duran goal assisted by McCleary in the final 23 seconds of the half, sent the Eagles into the locker room down one, 6-5.
The Eagles won the third 3-1, with Simonini scoring off good ball movement that saw Wojciechowski find him alone at the right post, and he slotted past the keeper to bring the teams even. The Griffins retook the lead with just under seven to play, but a pair of Duran goals, the first he weaved his way past three Griffin defenders before beating the keeper on a tight angle. The second, McCleary drew the entire defense to him and found Duran all alone at the back post, and he went low to beat the keeper as Juniata led 8-7 heading into the final quarter.
Gwynedd Mercy tied the game with just over nine minutes to go in the game and forced Toney into a few saves to keep the score tied. Four minutes later, Wojciechowski got the ball behind the net, spun past his man, and found Bechler in front of goal, and he ripped it past the keeper to give Juniata a 9-8 lead. Tony made four saves in the final five minutes of the game to help the Eagles hang on for the win.
The Eagle defense was busy in the fourth as the Griffins managed a game-high 16 shots in the fourth quarter, with Tony making six stops in the final frame.
Juniata will return to action Wednesday when they host Penn College at 7:30.
