Behind a clinical offensive performance from their veteran leaders, the Marist men’s lacrosse team secured a gritty 13-11 victory over the United States Air Force Academy in their home opener at Tenney Stadium on Saturday.
Junior attacker Collin Patrick and junior midfielder Sean Mullan combined for seven goals and five assists, providing the firepower needed to hold off a late game surge by the Falcons. The victory moves Marist to 2-2 on the season and serves as a measure of revenge against an Air Force program that defeated the Red Foxes 23-8 just one year ago.
Coming off a road win against Binghamton, Marist looked to establish dominance early in front of the home crowd. They did exactly that in the opening quarter. Senior attacker Peter Murray ignited the scoring, finding the back of the net off an assist from junior attacker Steven Cain. Shortly after, Murray turned playmaker, feeding Patrick for his fifth goal of the season.
The Red Foxes’ defense, anchored by freshman goalie Richie Metzger, remained impenetrable for much of the first half. Metzger, who earned his first collegiate win last week, continued his hot streak by recording 15 saves on the day.
In the second period, senior midfielder Drew Anderson and sophomore attacker Brady Dolan added to the tally, extending the lead. While Air Force’s senior midfielder Cole Rassas managed to break the drought for the Falcons, Mullan answered back with an unassisted laser to give Marist a 5-2 lead heading into the locker room.
The third quarter saw Marist attempt to put the game out of reach. Mullan remained a matchup nightmare for the Air Force defense, netting two goals in the period to bring his season total to 14. When sophomore midfielder Dylan Rocchio joined the scoring parade with his first goal of the season, it appeared the Red Foxes were coasting toward a blowout, leading by as many as six goals.
However, Air Force, desperate to snap a three game losing streak, refused to go quietly. The Falcon offense, led by senior attacker Caelan Driggs and sophomore attacker AJ Serna, began to find cracks in the Marist zone. Driggs scored twice in the latter half of the third, sparking a momentum shift that carried into the final 15 minutes.
The fourth quarter transformed into a shootout. The Falcons eventually clawed back to within two goals following scores from sophomore attacker Tyler Smart and freshman midfielder Ben Heidt, both of whom benefited from the vision of freshman attacker Christian Schweiger.
With the game hanging in the balance and the momentum swinging toward the visitors, Marist took control. Mullan found Patrick for a crucial goal at the 6:20 mark, and just 30 seconds later, the roles reversed, as Patrick assisted Mullan for his 15th goal of the year.
Despite a late man up goal by Serna for the Falcons, the Marist defense held firm in the final two minutes to seal the 13-11 win.
The box score reflected a balanced but top-heavy Marist attack. Mullan finished with a hat trick and three assists, while Patrick’s four goals proved he is back to full strength. Metzger’s 15 saves were vital, especially during a fourth quarter where Air Force outshot the Red Foxes.
The Red Foxes will look to carry this momentum into conference play. Marist returns to Tenney Stadium on Saturday, March 7, to host Mount St. Mary’s in their MAAC opener. The opening faceoff is scheduled for noon.
Edited by Mike Schiavone
Graphic by Quinn DiFiore
Photos by Celia Green
For more coverage of Marist athletics, follow @cfmarist on Instagram, X, TikTok and Bluesky, and sign up to receive daily alerts here.