GENEVA, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure started strong, but saw its offense grind to a second half halt as Hobart raced away for a 24-10 decision in the first-ever Atlantic 10 men's lacrosse game Saturday afternoon.
The Bonnies led for nearly the entire first quarter and were down just one with 91 seconds left in the half.
Hobart (5-4, 1-0 A-10) would race out to an 17-2 run after its early deficit to put the game away.
Sean Westley scored two goals with Westley notching three points to match Anthony Cimino for the team lead on the day.
Drew Kenney and Jake Rosa each had two points as well.
At faceoff X, Quinn Nolan earned 16 wins and 11 groundballs.
The Bonnies (1-9, 0-1) wasted no time in getting their first Atlantic 10 goal in program history – and it came off the stick of a Bona's player who had not scored a collegiate goal entering the day.
Redshirt freshman Will McKay was the star in the early going, netting the game's first goal.
The first quarter was owned by the Bonnies who held a 14-8 edge in shots during the opening 15 minutes. Kenney tallied his second goal of the year and the Bonnies would take a 4-2 lead to the period break.
Hobart scored the first goal of the second quarter to pull within one, but the Bonnies would lead by two once more when Cimino fired on net, then gathered his own rebound for his third goal of the year 11 minutes before the half.
For Hobart, though, that 5-3 deficit served as a wakeup call as the hosts would turn the tide for a 7-5 advantage and their first lead of the day.
Bona's veteran duo of Rosa and Westley combined with Rosa working up top to Westley who curled around from left of the net for his 14th goal of the year and pull the Bonnies back within one, 7-6.
Hobart would score on the man-up late in the half to take an 8-6 advantage to intermission.
A turn of events would set the tone in the third.
Just 90 seconds in, a Hobart shot ricocheted off the pipes and bounced out past midfield where Rosa picked up the groundball and fired a shot in transition. The Hobart goalie denied the opportunity, leading to a successful clear and quick goal the other way and a 9-6 score.
Hobart used that momentum to stretch its lead quickly to 13-6 just over five minutes into the half as it seized control.
The Statesmen continued their roll before the Bonnies would break a drought of over 22 minutes when Austin Blumbergs scored with 10:30 left to play.
By then, though, Hobart had put the game out of reach.
Troy Bartheleme led the Hobart attack with five goals and six points. Anthony Dattellas delivered five points and Sam Ward tallied a hat trick.
The Bonnies return home after a month away from the Marra Athletics Complex, hosting Saint Joseph's next Saturday at 1 p.m.
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