THE GAME FACTS
Score: Stevens 10, Roanoke 9
Location: Newport News, Va.
 
The Short Story: No. 15 Stevens fended off a late rally from the Maroons, hanging on for a 10-9 victory in the second round of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in Newport News.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Ducks grabbed an early 2-0 advantage on goals from Jack Savarese and Matthew Pergola. Julian Kammerman struck first for the Maroons, making it 2-1 with 8:45 to play in the opening period, but goals from Dominick Visintin and Savarese gave Stevens a 4-1 edge by the end of the frame.
• The teams battled back and forth in an entertaining second quarter. Luke Kammerman and Wyatt Whitlow tallied early markers to pull Roanoke to within 4-3, but an extra-man goal from Savarese pushed the Ducks' lead back to 5-3 at the 11:23 mark.
• Whitlow scored again to make it 5-4 with 10:52 to go, but Pergola answered just 17 seconds later. After a long stalemate, Joseph Grippo cashed in on a Maroon turnover to put Stevens ahead 7-4 with 3:16 left in the first half.
• Luca Docking and Noah Bell scored just 48 seconds apart later in the period to get RC back within one (7-6) with 1:13 to play, but Jackson Penn won the ensuing faceoff and set up another Pergola goal. The Ducks took the resulting 8-6 advantage into halftime.
• Grippo's man-up tally made it 9-6 in the opening minute of the third quarter. Whitlow's transition goal cut the margin back to two (9-7) with 12:32 on the clock, but Visintin scored at the 9:48 mark to make it 10-7.
• Roanoke would hold Stevens off the board the rest of the way. The Maroons gradually chipped away at the Ducks' lead, getting a goal from Patrick Cullen with 7:26 to go in the third and another from Bell that made it 10-9 with 13:30 remaining in regulation.
• Roanoke had numerous chances to tie the game down the stretch. A lengthy offensive possession that started with just under four minutes left featured six attempts, including a pipe shot and two saves from Kevin Holtby.
• The Stevens goalie then foiled Bell on an extra-man opportunity inside the final minute, and the Ducks picked up the loose ball and ran out the clock.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Whitlow's hat trick paced the Roanoke offense. Bell finished with two goals, while Docking and Luke Kammerman each notched one goal and one assist.
• Taylor Lewis recorded 15 saves in goal. Weston Hammond and RT Williamson tallied two caused turnovers apiece and combined for 11 ground balls.
• Jake Brader won 13-of-22 faceoffs and recorded a game-high eight ground balls.
• Pergola and Savarese both posted three goals for Stevens, while Grippo and Visintin each finished with a pair of markers. Holtby totaled 11 saves between the pipes.
• Roanoke outshot the Ducks 61-44 and registered a 41-30 advantage in ground balls. Stevens won the turnover category 17-11, limiting the Maroons to a 14-of-20 performance on clears.

UP NEXT

• Roanoke wraps up the season with a 14-6 overall record. Stevens will take on sixth-ranked Christopher Newport in the third round of the NCAA Tournament in Newport News on Saturday evening.