MADISON, NJ – NJIT men's lacrosse dropped a 12-4 decision to visiting Lafayette on Tuesday night despite
Nick Marzullo's 16-save effort at Drew University.
The win was the third in 12 tries this season for Lafayette, while NJIT drops to 1-12 in the home stretch of its second varsity season.
Marzullo, the sophomore goalkeeper. has recorded double-digit saves in nine out of NJIT's 13 games in 2016. Tying his career-high 16 saves Tuesday vs. Lafayette, Marzullo also added three ground balls and one caused turnover. Marzullo leads the team in ground balls with 54 and caused turnovers with 13.
Also leading NJIT was
Aaron Forster, who had two goals on the night. With two games remaining in 2015, the freshman has compiled 21 points on 11 goals and 10 assists, which ties teammate
Joe Lomeli's points total from last year in the first season of varsity lacross for the Highlanders. Lomeli got his 21 points in 2015 on 19 goals and two assists. He has 17 goals and 2 assists in 2016.
Adding goals in Tuesday's loss were
Ryan Callaghan and Lomeli, while
Tyler Baggett and
John Roach each registered an assist.
The Leopards were led by Kevin Lewis, who recorded three goals and three assists, and Eric Joseph, who scored four goals.
Callaghan started the scoring in the first quarter off a pass at the top of the crease from
John Roach to give NJIT the lead for most of the first quarter. However, Lafayette scored twice in the last 4:10 to win the quarter 2-1.
The Highlanders scored first again in the second period on an unassisted goal by Lomeli, but the Leopards doubled the Highlanders again to lead 4-2 going into the halftime.
Lafayette then blew the contest open with a 5-0 third period, with three goals coming from Lewis.
Forster scored twice for NJIT in in the fourth quarter, but Lafayette extended its lead with three goals in the final period to arrive at the 12-4 final.
John Anastos played 54:30 in goal for the Leopards, grabbing four saves, while Matt Cortese also made an appearance in net for Lafayette.
The Highlanders will host Marist on Saturday April 23 for their last home game of the season at Drew University and 4:30pm.
