Men's Lacrosse Clinches Home Semifinal Game With 8-6 Victory at LVC

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Widener survived the elements and a pesky Lebanon Valley squad to score the game's last four goals for an 8-6 Commonwealth Conference victory in Annville, PA.

In a game delayed 30 minutes due to lightning, Widener found itself in a 6-4 hole with 10:05 left when Malik Pedroso scored his second goal of the contest for LVC. But the Pride had little to worry about as junior Kyle Blakemore (Ridley Park, PA) scored nine seconds later off a feed from freshman Nick Striebich (Ellicott City, MD) for a one-goal game.

Widener dominated the fourth period by winning 4-of-6 face-offs and successfully clearing all five of its attempts. Its patience paid off with 5:50 remaining when Marc LaVine (Nashua, NH) scored off a pass from fellow sophomore Tim Taylor (Philadelphia, PA) for a 6-6 game.

Junior Trevor Alspach (Willingboro, NJ) won the ensuing face-off and Widener was back in business. It worked the ball around and got two shots in just over a minute before Blakemore buried one with 4:28 left off a pass from senior Robert Clemens (Aston, PA) for a 7-6 lead.

Blakemore added an unassisted marker with 1:43 remaining for his career-best fourth goal, giving Widener's its fifth win in its last six outings.

LaVine scored three times, Striebich had a goal and two assists with Taylor and Clemens getting two assists apiece for the Pride. Senior All-America Mac Nestler (Chatham, NJ) made 12 saves.

Pedroso also posted two assists, Matt Roupe scored twice and Kevin Krasley made five saves for the Dutchmen (7-7, 3-5 CC).

Widener (8-5, 6-1) moved with 1/2 game of first-place Stevenson in the conference and has clinched no worse than a number two seed for the league tournament. This means the Pride will host a semifinal on Thursday, May 1 at 8:00 pm against an opponent to be determined.

Widener ends the regular season Saturday on Senior Day against Elizabethtown, starting at 1:00 pm.

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