Lacrosse earns first CAA win, beats UMass

The Delaware men's lacrosse team ended their two-game losing streak as they beat No. 12 Massachusetts 9-6 at home in Delaware Stadium on Saturday. It was the first time the Minutemen and Hens have competed since 1996.


All-American attackman Curtis Dickson scored tie-breaking back-to-back goals, his second and third of the game, totaling 45 for the season. He now shares the season scoring title with Duke's Max Quinzani. Dickson's goals came after Minuteman Will Manny scored three consecutive goals to tie the game in the beginning of the fourth quarter.


"It was a must-win game so everyone was pretty focused," Dickson said. "When we came in we knew we had to stick to the game plan, and we let a little lead slip there in the fourth quarter, but the defense stepped up, and offense scored some goals, and we got done what we needed to get done."


Senior Anthony Ruiz scored Delaware's first goal of the game, with an assist by Taylor Burns in the first quarter, for his first goal of the season. Later on in the third quarter, Ruiz scored again, increasing Delaware's lead to 6-2.


Head coach Bob Shillinglaw was very impressed with the way his team played against the Minutemen.


"I feel the team's been playing really hard every game this year," Shillinglaw said. "We really put all four quarters together from both the offensive end and the defensive end, and both ends led to a successful victory for us against a highly ranked team."


The Minutemen scored the first goal of the game in the first minute, but Ruiz tied it seven minutes later.


Six Hens scored goals in the game against UMass — Ruiz, John Austin, Dickson, Kevin Kaminski, Martin Cahill, and Nick Elsmo — making it one of their most balanced games this season.


Cahill said the team showed significant improvement during the game in their ability to play together as a team.


"Today was actually the first time where the defense played together, the offense played together and we all came together as one team, and it definitely helped a lot," Cahill said. "From Noah [Fossner] making saves and getting the ball up and out to the offensive possession, and them taking shots, it all went very well."


This win was significant for Delaware as it was its first conference win of the season. Shillinglaw said in order for the team to make the playoffs, they need to treat each game as if it were a playoff game.


"Today's game we were ahead 6-2 then they tied it 6-6. We stopped them defensively and scored 3 goals to run away with the victory, and I think we did a good job in the end," he said. "With our possessions we didn't give them offensive opportunities. I think this team has confidence in themselves and hopefully today's victory will help us practice this week and in our game with Drexel next weekend."


The last time the Hens won a game this season was March 27 against Vermont, but the team has not been preparing any differently despite the consecutive losses.


"We do the same thing before each game," Cahill said. "We had a great week of practice leading up to this game and we knew that our backs were against the wall and we had to win. And luckily, it came through."