Men's Lacrosse opens 2024 with victory against STAC

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's lacrosse team won a physical 15-6 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday, February 17 to open the 2024 season.

The Spartans opened the scoring, but AIC ultimately controlled the first quarter as Carter Linkletter found Tyler Goode open in front for the first Yellow Jackets goal of the season just 27 seconds later. Late in the quarter, Hunter Terlik and Ryder Goodwin scored on back-to-back possessions 51 seconds apart, putting AIC up 3-1 after one.

At the first break, the Spartans were called for an illegal stick, giving AIC a lengthy man-up. John Pena turned it around, however, with a shorthanded goal 37 seconds in. Linkletter responded, winning the next draw and scoring 10 seconds later, and Dawson Long put in his first 16 seconds after that.

Both teams scored two more in the quarter, and both for AIC were set up by Seven Gillingham; Micaiah Boyle and Long each netted goals, the latter shorthanded, to give AIC a 7-4 advantage after two.

AIC effectively put the game away in the second half with five third-period goals. Goode, Devon Walker, and Andrew Boyer each found the twine before the lone Spartans goal of the third, and Boyer and Long scored special teams goals to close the quarter out. 

Long added three more points in the fourth, with two man-down goals of his own and a dish to Goode for a strike. The Yellow Jackets did allow a late goal, but it was inconsequential as the team won 15-6.

Long led the scoring with five goals and also forced three turnovers, while Goode had a hat trick. Linkletter forced four possession changes and grabbed seven ground balls, and Jack Bamford dished three assists. Shaden Shields earned the win with nine saves on 14 shots in 48:35.

AIC will next head south to Wheeling University on Saturday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m.