Box Score

The Blue Streaks enjoyed a great year but could not keep up with Union.

John Carroll JCU 17-3

Union (N.Y.) UNION (N.Y.) 15-2

John Carroll JCU

17-3

Final

May. 14, 2022

Union (N.Y.) UNION (N.Y.)

15-2

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
John Carroll JCU	3	1	0	3	7
Union (N.Y.) UNION (N.Y.)	7	3	3	1	14

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | 5/14/2022 3:11:00 PM | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Men's Lacrosse Bows Out of NCAA Tournament in Second Round at Union

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- On a hot day in New York, John Carroll Men's Lacrosse suffered a season-ending defeat in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

John Carroll fought valiantly, but #7/10 Union College's quickstrike offense inflicted too much damage and the Dutchmen defense proved to be too strong.

The Blue Streaks lost a physical 14-7 game to the Dutchmen on Saturday, finishing the year with a 17-3 record.

"Our guys played real hard. We knew the level we had to put in to compete with a team like this," said Head Coach Joe Rautenstrauch. "Union is a national championship contender, they've proven that this year with who they've beaten. I'm so proud of our guys. We talked about battling for 60 minutes, and we did that. There's a lot of frustration in our locker room that we keep getting stuck at this round. But I'm proud of the effort of the entire team."

Morgan Morrell helped JCU draw first blood, scoring just 90 seconds into the game. Union resounded with a couple quick goals. Ian Flynn ripped home a quick one off a ground ball to tie the score again.

But Union's offense continued to pressure JCU, going ahead with a goal at 10:36. The JCU coaching staff called a timeout as the Blue Streaks adjusted to having a new netminder in Johnny Wilson III as Jon Gaglio had to sit out today.

Union got another to go up by two, but Kevin Hack finished one off a bouncer at 6:20 off a Morgan Morrell assist. The Dutchmen answered a minute later to go ahead again by a couple. JCU couldn't take advantage of a man-up, so Union got a goal of their own. Union then sprinted down the field and scored with just 2 seconds to play in the opening stanza, carrying a 7-3 lead into the second.

The Blue Streaks struggled to stop Union's quickstrike offense to start the second, as the hosts scored in transition to push the lead to 8-3. Thankfully Matt Berdysiak found twine, burying a high shot off a Brendan Whitty helper to end a 5-0 Union run.

The Dutchmen didn't take long to restart the offense. The hosts got a couple quick ones, herding ahead 10-4, leading to a JCU timeout at 7:12. After JCU held opponents to single-digit goal totals in the previous 12 games, Union got to double digits in the opening half.

In the final seven minutes of the half, the Blue Streaks stood strong on defense, as Wilson settled in. The senior finished the half with 7 saves. The groundballs battle was also close, with Union ahead just 19-15, but the Dutchmen found an advantage on faceoffs and clears.

"They rode us, won faceoffs, and we shot ourselves in the foot a few times," said Rautenstrauch. "It's tough to score when you have to play defense for three minutes. Credit to Union, they are a fantastic team that suffocates you."

Union got the first goal of the third quarter while holding JCU's offense at bay. From there, Wilson and Union's Dan Donahue traded saves. As JCU's offensive slump continued, the visitors took a timeout with 3:38 left in the third.

The break unfortunately didn't help, as the Blue Streaks allowed a pair and trailed 13-4 heading into the fourth.

After a Union goal and a penalty, the Blue Streaks broke a 32-minute schneide, as Kevin Hack rocketed home a Whitty feed. In the waning minutes, Whitty scored off a Jared Gorenflo assist and Hack hit a hat trick for the final margin.

Despite the loss, the Blue Streaks finish with the most wins in a single season in program history with 17.

Whitty graduates as the leader in assists in program history, finishing with a total of 175 assists and 314 points.

"It's been a really fun five years," said Whitty. "I don't think the assisting is anything that special. I just pass the ball, everyone else finds a lane and shoots it. I do the easy work, but it's been a great 5 years. We've come a long way very quickly. I'm excited to follow the team until I'm dead."

On defense, the Blue Streaks did a heck of a job this season and this game. Wilson finished with 21 saves, which is the second-most by a JCU goalie in a game in program history.

The defenders in front of the net did a marvelous job all season long and deserve plenty of kudos. Senior Robbie Robinson has been one of the hard-working, unheralded members of the defense who made this run to the second round possible.

"When I came here, we had one senior pole. We've grown up together as a group," said Robinson. "Being here in this situation sucks, losing at this stage. But I don't think that goes to show how far we've come as a program. The guys on defense are my brothers for life. It's not individual stats, it's coming together as one."

Without a doubt, the seniors and fifth-years have done plenty to advance the program.

"Brendan's class was my first here. Robbie's year was our first full recruiting class. We've all grown up together, as I got the job pretty young," said Rautenstrauch. "We've all learned a lot from each other over the last 4-5 years. They've pushed themselves really hard. We won the most games in program history. We've in and out of rankings. In a bit, we'll feel proud, but right now is the frustrating part. These guys have put so much into this program. I'm proud of these guys, and they'll be friends of mine for life. They left the program in a much better place than they found it."

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