Russ LeClair vs. York (Pa.) 3/18/15
7
York (Pa.) YCP 3-4
11
Winner Elizabethtown ETWN-M 6-2
York (Pa.) YCP
3-4
7
Final
11
Elizabethtown ETWN-M
6-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
York (Pa.) YCP 2 0 3 2 7
Elizabethtown ETWN-M 4 4 1 2 11

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

Blue Jays dispatch of No. 20 York

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Russ LeClair's first quarter hat trick and five-goal first half put 20th-ranked York (Pa.) in trouble and Elizabethtown men's lacrosse held on for an 11-7 victory –and the program's second ever win over a ranked opponent– Wednesday afternoon at Wolf Field.

York started the scoring in a furious first quarter that saw the teams combine for six goals, taking advantage of an early man advantage on a Dan Kaplan goal 31 seconds into the game.

Less than a minute later, Nick Specht darted to the center of the field, spun around a Spartan defender and ripped a shot from a few steps inside the restraining line to tie the game at one.

Though Andrew Gamble would give York a 2-1 lead 33 seconds after Specht's tying goal, it would have no answer for LeClair and the Blue Jays for the remainder of the half.

LeClair moved out from beside the cage and blew his 14th goal of the season past York (3-4) goalie Caleb Abney at 11:52. The senior added goals at 7:17 and 3:46 of the period.

Elizabethtown picked up right where it left off in the second, using Joe Clark's team-leading 18th goal to take a 5-2 lead 2:25 into the quarter. LeClair, who set new single-game career-highs in goals, points (six) and shots (10) Wednesday, then found Mike Specht with 9:56 to go in the half for the first of his three goals.

LeClair would match Clark for the team lead in goals before the half was through. Cody Larkin assisted on his second LeClair goal at the 2:04 mark, which also was the 50th of his career. Mike Specht returned the favor from earlier in the quarter, feeding LeClair for his fifth of the game with 49 seconds left in a flag down situation. The Blue Jays (6-2) headed to the locker room with an 8-2 lead.

The Blue Jays extended their run of goals to eight early in the third when Jake Snyder raced up field and scored the first of his career to make it 9-2.

Gamble (3 goals) and Tyler Hutson (2 goals, 2 assists) were able to help the Spartans capitalize on additional scoring opportunities in the second half, but E-town's large lead proved too much for the visitors to overcome.

Chris Wenger, who missed the Susquehanna game Saturday after being injured in the second half of last week's win over Delaware Valley, returned to the cage to make 10 stops. Seven of those came before halftime, as Elizabethtown seized control.

With York looking to get back within three, Wenger stopped Kaplan right at the edge of the crease to keep the Jays ahead 10-6 with 7:30 to play. He also came up with another big save on Matt Whitcher in the final three minutes.

Mike Specht scored his second hat trick of the season as part of a four-point afternoon and Mike Tangredi led the defense with three caused turnovers and an equal number of ground balls.

Reigning Landmark Conference Defensive Athlete of the Week, Matt Frey, had a pair of caused turnovers and ground balls for the Blue and Gray, which earned its first win over a ranked opponent since March 31, 2004, when it beat then-No. 12 Messiah 11-10 in overtime.

The Spartans doubled up the Jays on face-offs behind Jake Katchmark's 13-for-20 afternoon. Katchmark led all players with six ground balls.

Abney took the loss and was pulled in favor of James Anderson following Mike Specht's goal that put E-town ahead 6-2 with 9:56 left before halftime. Anderson allowed five goals and turned away eight shots.

Elizabethtown can match last season's win total when it travels to Scranton Saturday for a 1 p.m. start.

 
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