Bennett, Jones, and Howell Collect CACC Weekly Honors
New Haven, Conn. - (3/18/2019) – Sophomore attack J.R. Howell (East Meadow, N.Y.) totaled seven points, freshman goalkeeper Austin Jones (Courtice, Ontario) made 21 saves, and senior midfielder John Bennett (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) totaled two goals, four ground balls, and two caused turnovers to lead Chestnut Hill College in a 15-14 loss to #13 Mercyhurst University. Despite the defeat, the trio was respectively recognized with Honor Roll, Rookie, and Defensive Player awards on the latest Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Men’s Lacrosse Weekly Report.
Junior attack Scott Wilden (Wexford, Pa.) and Howell connected for the first goal of the contest, 1-0 (12:43), and sophomore attack Carson Rees (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) added the second just seconds later, 2-0 (12:32). Mercyhurst University (3-2) managed a reply at 11:52, 2-1, but it was just an interruption as Chestnut Hill College (3-3) scored twice more (11:07, 6:59) before a late Laker score (0:17) left the Griffins up two goals at the first quarter break, 4-2. Mercyhurst University cut the Scarlet and Gold lead in half with the first tally of the second quarter, 4-3 (14:37), but a Bennett man-up goal (5-3, 12:04) sparked a 4-0 Chestnut Hill College run that pushed the Griffins out to an 8-3 (6:06) edge midway through the frame. Unfortunately, a 3-0 Laker run reduced the spread to two goals, 8-6 (0:47), just seconds before halftime. But in those closing seconds, a solo effort from Howell gave the Griffins a three-goal lead, 9-6, at intermission. After the break, a back-and-forth third quarter left Chestnut Hill College with a slightly larger 13-9 advantage. That is when Mercyhurst University hit their groove, scoring six goals during the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter, 15-13 (6:55). Bennett’s tally came with 32 seconds (0:32) remaining – on the third of three assists from sophomore Carson Rees (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) – but it was too little too late as the Lakers survived for the 15-14 win.
Howell performance was his second straight with more than five points. He also recovered a pair of ground balls. Jones (3-3) made 14 saves in the first half. His 21 saves were the most by a Griffin goalkeeper since Dakota Maurer ’13 totaled 21 in a 13-3 loss to #8 Mercy College on March 5, 2011. He added four ground balls and a caused turnover for good measure.
