INDIANAPOLIS – The 2016 men's lacrosse season has been defined by a number of program "firsts." Several of those moments came back on Feb. 20 at Mars Hill – the first game, the first goal, the first win.
Saturday, in the familiar setting of Key Stadium, the Greyhounds played their first-ever home game. It also happened to be the first Division II men's lacrosse game played in the state of Indiana.
After the ceremonial face-off between President Dr. Robert Manuel and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Sue Willey, the Greyhounds truly christened the occasion with a resounding 17-6 victory over the visiting Shorter Hawks.
In what was a close contest for three quarters, the Hounds (3-0) opened the flood gates with a 10-goal fourth quarter, sending the Hawks (1-4) packing with their fourth consecutive loss of the season.
Shorter, a fifth-year program from Rome, Ga., held an early 2-1 lead over UIndy just over six minutes into the game, but the Hounds got goals from
Shawn Kimble and
Luke Allen to exit the first period up 3-2.
Two goals from
Parker Kump and another from Allen in the second quarter helped UIndy carry a 6-4 lead into the halftime break. The two sides were nearly inseparable on the stat sheet at the half, with a similar number of shots (UIndy's 19 to Shorter's 17), ground balls (11 each), turnovers (nine each), clears (Shorter's 9-of-10 to UIndy's 8-of-10) and faceoffs (6-12 each).
The third period presented a defensive struggle on both ends of the field, but Allen's third goal at 4:05 mark broke the drought and gave the Hounds a brief 7-4 lead. Matt Kristiansen brought the Hawks back within two less than one minute later with an unassisted goal, making the score 7-5 heading to the final quarter.
For the first five-plus minutes of the fourth quarter the game remained in its status quo, but a quick flurry of Greyhound goals and a costly Shorter penalty sparked what would turn out to be a double-digit rout.
It began with just under 10:00 on the clock, when Shorter gave up an own goal (credited to Kump), and Kump followed with another tally on an assist from
Shawn Kimble. On the ensuing faceoff,
Joseph Szymkowicz came away with the ball, took it straight down the field and delivered his first career goal.
At the 8:25 mark, consecutive Shorter penalties – one a 3-minute non-releasable – led to four man-up goals for the Hounds.
In less than five minutes UIndy turned a 7-5 advantage into a 15-5 – eight of those goals coming with a man advantage.
Kump led the Greyhounds with five goals and an assist, increasing his team-highs in goals and points to 11 and 13, respectively, for the season. Allen added four for the Hounds on 10 shots.
Shawn Kimble notched his first hat trick of season, and led the team Saturday with a pair of assists.
UIndy's faceoff duo of Szymkowicz (7-14) and
Robert Berardi (9-13) combined to win 16 of 27 total faceoffs. Berardi also paced the Hounds with five ground balls.
On the defensive side,
Adam Dobis forced three Hawks turnovers, adding three ground balls, and
Max Gerhardt had a caused turnover and ground ball.
Jarod Kimble made 14 saves playing all 60 minutes in the cage.
UIndy begins its Eastern College Athletic Conference slate next Saturday at Wheeling Jesuit at 3 p.m. The Greyhounds won't return to Key Stadium until an ECAC match against Lindenwood March 29 for a 1 p.m. start.
