Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Bona's outstanding freshmen powered the scoring attack in a 12-8 win for the St. Bonaventure men's lacrosse team Tuesday afternoon vs. Canisius at the Marra Athletics Complex.

Jake Kucinski and Patrick Shanahan, who have each earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors this season including Shanahan who took home the award this week, combined for seven of the Bonnies goals.

Kucinski led the way with four tallies while Shanahan registered his third straight hat trick with three scores.

After falling behind 1-0 in the opening minutes of the contest, the Bonnies responded with four straight goals of their own and never trailed again.

Kucinski started the scoring for the Brown and White to tie the game and Mark Belles struck two minutes later to give the Bonnies their first lead of the game.

Shanahan found the back of the net off a feed from Jake Rosa for Bona's third goal of the first.

Kyle Pepper netted his first goal of the contest a minute after, giving the Bonnies a 4-1 lead after one.

Bona's continued to put pressure on the Canisius defense in the second period despite giving up two goals in the opening five minutes of the quarter.

It was a 5-0 run this time for the Brown and White, getting a pair of goals from Shanahan and Kucinski who each completed their first-half hat tricks.

Bona's leading scorer entering the day, Kellen Pullera capped of the run and the first-half scoring with his first goal of the contest, giving the Bonnies a 9-3 halftime lead.

The Golden Griffins were able to pull two back to begin the second half before Conor Murphy notched his first goal of the game with 7:37 on the clock, putting the Bonnies back up by five, 10-5.

The Bonnies (1-5) and Griffs traded goals over the final five minutes as the Brown and White took an 11-6 lead into the fourth.

Kucinski's fourth goal of the game gave the Bonnies a lead they would not relinquish heading down the stretch.

Canisius (2-5) tried to rally, scoring a pair of goal in the final two minutes of the contest to make the margin four, but could get no closer.

Kucinski and Shanahan finished with four points each while Drew Kenney, Pepper and Belles registered two points apiece. Shanahan also scooped up five groundballs.

Another Bona frosh, Grant Giunchi, won a career-high 12 faceoffs with six groundballs.

Benny Carter, yet another freshman, had two caused turnovers and four groundballs on the defensive end.

Cristofero Cucciuffo got the start in net, stopping 10 shots on the day.

The Bonnies get an 11-day break before they return to action at the Marra Athletics Complex when they host Marquette Saturday, March 23.
 

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