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America East Semifinals

#11 Hofstra 11, Delaware 8
May 2, 2001

 

 Pride Knocks Hens Out of Playoffs; Lavey, Christopher Net Three Goals Each for Blue Hens

Dave Christopher Scored Three Goals in His Final Game as a Blue Hen

HEMPSTEAD, NY - For the second straight year, Hofstra University has knocked the University of Delaware out of the America East men's lacrosse tournament.

No. 2 seed and 11th ranked Hofstra scored five goals each in the second and third quarters to take control and post an 11-8 win over No. 3 seed University of Delaware in the America East men's lacrosse semifinals Wednesday night at Hofstra Stadium.

Hofstra (10-5), which downed the Blue Hens 14-4 in last year's title game, advance to the America East championship game Saturday at No. 1 Towson at 1 p.m. Towson advanced with an 18-8 win over No. 4 Vermont Wednesday afternoon. The Pride, who have won five of the last six America East titles, have now won five straight games and 9 of their last 10.

Delaware, which had won four of its last five games entering the tournament, finished the season at 6-9 despite three-goal efforts from seniors Dave Christopher (Springfield/Springfield, PA) and Jason Lavey (Harborfields/Huntington Station, NY).

Tom Kessler, Adam Hananel, and Paul Defendini each scored two goals and goalkeeper Jack Alaimo recorded eight saves to lead the Pride to the victory. Hofstra had defeated the Blue Hens 11-10 back on April 14 at Hofstra Stadium.

Senior Jason Motta (Lakeland-Panas/Peekskill, NY) added one goal and one assist and sophomore Brad Downer (Annapolis/Annapolis, MD) added a goal for the Blue Hens. Junior goalkeeper Dave Mullen (Ridley/Ridley Park, PA) posted 14 saves in goal for the Blue Hens.

Delaware broke the ice on a goal by Lavey six minutes into the game and Motta gave the Hens a 2-0 cushion with a goal just 10 seconds into the second stanza. But Hofstra reeled off four straight goals to go up 5-2. A goal by Delaware's Christopher 49 seconds before halftime cut the lead to 5-3.

Hofstra opened the second half with two quick goals from Kessler and Defendini and the Blue Hens would never get closer than three goals again. Lavey scored the final goal of the game with 3:53 left to play to cut the lead to 11-8, but the Hens could not score again.

Lavey finished as Delaware's leading scorer for the season, scoring 31 goals and dishing 24 assists for 55 points. He scored at least one point for the 39th straight game and finished his career with 82 goals and 93 assists for 175 points, seventh all-time in Delaware history.

AGATE:

Delaware...........1..........2.........2..........3..........8
Hofstra..............0..........5.........5..........1.........11

Individual Scoring (Goals-Assists):

Delaware - Dave Christopher, 3-0, Jason Lavey, 3-0; Jason Motta, 1-1, Brad Downer, 1-0, R.C. Reed, 0-1, Andrew Benazzi, 0-1, Jamie Andrew, 0-1, Chris Bickley, 0-1, Matt Lehmann, 0-1; Hofstra - Tom Kessler, 2-1, Paul Defendini, 2-0, Adam Hananel, 2-1, Ramar Clash, 1-1, Nick Polanco, 1-0, Steve McTigue, 1-0, Kevin Dougherty, 1-0, Doug Shanahan, 1-0, Scott Dooley, 0-1

Shots: Delaware - 25, Hofstra - 41; Saves: Delaware - 14 (Dave Mullen), Hofstra - 8 (Jack Alaimo); Groundballs: Delaware - 31, Hofstra - 44; Faceoffs: Delaware - 8, Hofstra - 15; Penalties; Delaware - 8 for 6:30, Hofstra - 4 for 3:30; Extra Man Goals: Delaware - 2 for 3, Hofstra - 0 for 8; Clears: Delaware - 17 of 26, Hofstra - 18 of 26; Attendance: 1,166.

- DDD -