Release courtesy of Dickinson Athletic Communications
CARLISLE, Pa. - For the second straight season the Dickinson Red Devils claimed the Centennial Conference Championship after knocking off the second-seeded Swarthmore College Garnet by a score of 13-7 at Biddle Field on Sunday afternoon in front of raucous crowd.
Dickinson was off and running early as John McKee claimed the opening faceoff getting the ball ahead to Skyler Schluter who found Matt Thurston for the early 1-0 lead just 33-seconds in. The home side continued to apply pressure with shots coming from Ethan Ackerman, James Isaacson, Owen Porter and Thurston forcing a pair of stops out of Garnet keeper Ryan Pretzer. However, with 3:50 off the clock it became 2-0 thanks to Sam Campbell. A faceoff win for SC resulted in a save from Chris Brandau on Clay Almgren, before Almgren hit Carter Strauch to make it 2-1. Over the next five minutes it was all DC as they outshot the visitors 7-1 and tallied three goals out of the sticks of Sascha Gannon, Porter and Schluter (Will Farrell assist) to stretch the advantage to 5-1 with three minutes left. Brandau would make sure the lead hung where it was as he denied both Nolan Ohrman and Von Mabbs to send the game to the second.
Brandau and Pretzer each recorded a save inside the first five minutes, which allowed the Garnet to cash in man-up through Strauch after an unnecessary roughness penalty was handed out Merrick Carey. The guests pulled to within 5-3 off the ensuing faceoff when Strauch setup Danny Lowe. The remainder of the quarter went by without a goal as Dickinson had five of the final eight shots with each keeper notching one save to leave DC ahead by two going to the half.
It took just 1:17 into the third for the Red and White to tally twice as McKee claimed two faceoffs leading to markers from McKee and Ethan Gess (Schluter assist) to open the margin out to 7-3. Three minutes later the Garnet took advantage of a failed clear to rip the net as Lowe struck unassisted. The teams split the next four shots with Pretzer turning away Thurston which allowed Almgren to bring it down to 7-5 with 6:54 to play. After Liam Halstead controlled the next faceoff, Xander Usich poked the rock away letting Brandau track down the loose ball and hitting Mac Childs who navigated his way through the defense to best Pretzer. McKee then took another win at the X and hit Thurston for the quick two-goal spurt and a 9-5 lead inside six minutes left. Brandau made sure to keep the margin at four entering the fourth as he shutdown both Jackson Brosgol and Lowe to end the frame.
Dickinson kept letting the rock fly towards Pretzer early in fourth as Lee Dunn, Isaacson and Porter each missed the mark in the opening two minutes. However, Ackerman knocked the ball out of the crosse of Rex Mabbs which led to Gannon tickling the twine at the other end for the 10-5 edge. Swarthmore tried to stem the tide, but Brandau continued to be a wall in cage stopping both Mabbs and Almgren, before Schluter hit Porter for the 11th of the afternoon with just under ten minutes to play. Another Brandau denial resulted in the 12th as Thurston tallied unassisted making it 12-5. Pretzer made two more stops of his own allowing his team to strike twice pulling within 12-7 at the 8:41 mark. Consecutive Swarthmore turnovers caused by Evan Karetsos and Cole Schwartz set the stage for the final goal of the day with 2:40 left thanks to Porter slamming home a pass from Schluter. Karetsos would force one more turnover with 90-seconds remaining to let the Red and White close out the game.
Devils goalie Chris Brandau was named Tournament MVP! after making 22 saves between the two Centennial Conference Tournament games.
Red Devil Leaders
Goals - Porter and Thurston (3), Gannon (2)
Assists - Schluter (4), Farrell and McKee (1)
Groundballs - Brandau (10), McKee (7), Karetsos and Porter (3)
Saves - Brandau (13)
Garnet Leaders
Goals - Almgren, Lowe and Strauch (2)
Assists - Strauch (2)
Groundballs - Bernstein (5), Pretzer (4)
Saves - Pretzer (13)
NCAA Tournament Bound
Dickinson (15-3) has earned the automatic bid for the Centennial Conference into the NCAA Tournament and has made a very strong case to be a host site for the second straight season. The field will be announced at 9pm tonight on NCAA.com.