ALBANY, N.Y. – Sophomore Gunner MacMillan scored five goals and the Roberts Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team held The College of Saint Rose scoreless for nearly 29 minutes in the second and third quarters as the Redhawks rallied from an early four-goal deficit to register a 17-8 non-conference victory on Saturday.
"Once we got rid of our bus legs, we were all right," Roberts head coach Rocky Delfino said. "We started moving the ball and finding the open man and Gunner was Gunner."
Saint Rose scored four goals in the first 5:18 before the Redhawks (5-2) closed the first quarter on a 5-0 run on two goals from MacMillan and single tallies from Dan Doviak, Jordon Deats and Reid Jackowski.
The Golden Knights tied the game early in the second before Roberts went on a 9-0 run over the next 28:56 to build a 14-5 advantage.
The defense, which had a strong outing against top-ranked LeMoyne on Wednesday, continued to impress. Parker Bossard is the lone returning starter, but goalkeeper Andy Davis, and freshmen close defenders Brady Kustra and Connor Pearce have formed a solid core along with help from middies Luke Delavak, Garrett Cole and Sam Keens.
"They play well together," Delfino said. "All of them have unbelievable footwork, they communicate and they know how to throw checks."
MacMillan, who entered the game leading the East Coast Conference in goals with 24, finished with five goals and two assists. Jackowski, who tops the conference in assists, added three goals and two assists and Deats,a junior midfielder, scored a career-high four goals.
Freshman Curtis Denison added two goals and Garrett Cole, Justin Skelly and Matt Walsh all added one for Roberts.
Davis made 13 saves for Roberts and Kustra led the Redhawks with two caused turnovers.
The Redhawks open East Coast Conference play at 11 a.m. at Mercy. Mercy was voted first in the ECC preseason coaches poll and was ranked third in this week's USILA Division II Top 25.
Delfino knows he won't need to say much to motivate his team as it enters the second half of its season.
"Conference play," he said. "That's it."