Box Score

GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – Four hat tricks fueled Gwynedd Mercy University (1-2) to an 18-3 victory over the Mount Saint Mary College men's lacrosse team (0-2) Saturday afternoon at the Gwynedd-Mercy Athletic Complex.

Mason Risner and Tommy Belmont each scored four goals for the host Griffins, while Nico Belardo and Alfonso Manzo both added three apiece. Belardo recorded a seven-point game, handing out four assists to go along with his hat trick. Risner and Manzo each picked up five points.

The Knights scored the first two goals of Saturday's affair. Sophomore midfielder CJ Cardo (Merrick, N.Y.) kicked things off with a netter off a feed from junior midfielder Jake Robison (Franklin Square, N.Y.) just 18 seconds into the contest. Freshman attacker Shaun McMahon (Commack, N.Y.) notched a goal at the 5:31mark of the first half to put the Knights up 2-0, but the Griffins fired back with a vengeance, scoring the next nine goals over the first two quarters. Cardo scored a man-up goal with 44 seconds remaining before halftime to cut the deficit to six.

Gwynedd Mercy scored six goals in the third quarter, and another three in the fourth to take home the 18-3 victory.

Cardo led the Knights with two goals on the afternoon, while Robison handed out two assists. Sophomore defender Mike Hargraves (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) picked up five ground balls. Junior goalkeeper Connor Haran (Massapequa, N.Y.) shouldered the loss for the Knights, allowing 16 goals and making 13 saves after facing 41 shots.

John Black earned the victory for the Griffins, making five saves and allowing just three goals. Anthony Scardina picked up a game-high eight ground balls, while three Griffins caused two turnovers each.

Gwynedd Mercy outshot the Knights, 46-16, on the afternoon. They also won 18-of-25 faceoffs and picked up 43 ground balls to 26 for the Knights.

The Knights will stay in Pennsylvania for the next few days before facing off with head coach Eric Seideman's alma mater, Haverford College, on Tuesday, March 11. Tuesday's matchup is set to begin at 2 p.m.

Follow the Knights on Twitter at @MSMCKnights and the men's lacrosse team at @MSMCLacrosse