DUBUQUE, Iowa — Scoring eight goals and holding their opponent to just two in the first half, the Carthage men's lacrosse team secured their second victory in as many games this season on Sunday with a 10-4 win over Dubuque at Oyen Field.
Seconds into the game, George Burchfield scored to put the Firebirds (2-0) on the board before Ben Krok made it 2-0 moments later. In the final minute of the first quarter, Michael Stell found Burchfield for a man-up goal to make it 3-0 after the first 15 minutes of play. Krok found the net once more early in the second quarter, before Sam Wallace scored in his first game of the season to make it a 5-0 Carthage lead. A handful of goals just before halftime from each side would set the score at 8-2 at the midway break, after Andrew Johnson assisted Krok on a last-second goal.
While the home team would score first to begin the second half, the Firebirds responded with a goal by Hayden Fischer. The two teams traded goals in the fourth quarter once more, as Carthage secured the six-point victory.
The Firebirds take a break but return home to Kenosha for their next match, as they take on Lake Forest College in their home opener on Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m.
"Blake is on fire right now, and a big reason we are 2-0. I think the defense played better, but there were too many penalties late and we're still not playing fundamental on-ball defense; and that had us on the back of our heels the entire second half. It's been hard to get ready for two teams we had no scout on."
"Offensively, we just were not ready to play sixty minutes. It's been a long time since we have had that many turnovers. We did not manage the game well or value the ball. We settled for some bad shots, couldn't finish on the doorstep, and many unforced turnovers. We are a better offense than we have shown, but we have really played young the first two games. We got a little lucky today and the defense bailed us out. Ben Krok, another freshman, really stepped up. That's back-to-back weekends a freshman has led the offense. We need the time off to get better and should be at full strength for the first time all season when we play Lake Forest. It's a long season and we have a lot of time to grow."
Quick Facts
- The Firebirds now lead their all-time series with Dubuque 7-1.
- For the second game in a row to begin the season, the Firebirds were led offensively in goals by a freshman, as Ben Krok found the back of the net four times to give him a team-best five goals to start the season.
- With a pair of goals today, George Burchfield is tied for the team lead with seven points to begin the season on four goals and three assists.
- In his first action of the season after winning two CCIW diving titles on February 12, Sam Wallace helped lead the team on defense with four ground balls and four caused turnovers, adding his first career goal on offense.
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