Lakewood, N.J. – (4/20/2021) – An 18-of-24 (.750) performance on the draw and 14 ground balls from graduate faceoff Zachary Ornstein (Howell, N.J.) kept Chestnut Hill College in control of today's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) contest at Georgian Court University. The Griffins used the extra possessions to out shoot the Lions 57-30 and outscore them as well, 13-7. Senior attack Carson Rees (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) led the Scarlet and Gold victory with four goals, two assists, and two ground balls. Junior attack J.R. Howell (East Meadow, N.Y.) recorded five ground balls, four of them came in the first half and the last with 5:22 remaining in the third quarter marked the 100th of his collegiate career.
Georgian Court University (6-2, 2-1) scored the game's first goal just past the 10-minute mark, 1-0 (9:58). But, Chestnut Hill College (5-2, 2-0) answered with three of the next four tallies as Howell found Rees at 8:13, 1-1, before a Lion goal (2-2, 7:52) and scores from sophomore midfielder Mike Smith (Center Valley, Pa.) (2-2, 5:42) and senior midfielder Ben Revak (Aston, Pa.) (3-2, 3:51) pushed the Griffins ahead 3-2. Each side scored once more if the first period; the last was by Howell (4-3, 0:06) and it put the Scarlet and Gold ahead for good as Chestnut Hill College opened the second and third quarters with 3-0 runs en route to their 13-7 triumph.
Juniors, attack P.J. Saracino (North Haven, Conn.) and midfielder Michael Ventresca (Hamburg, N.Y.) scored two goals apiece to lead Georgian Court University. Saracino also provided an assist and two ground balls. In goal, graduate Austin Geissel (Pompton Plains, N.J.) did his best to keep the Lions in the contest. He recorded 21 saves, four ground balls, and a caused turnover in the loss (6-2).
Rees scored first Griffins goal in each of the first two quarters and one in each of the second-half frames to total four tallies in all. Along the way he found senior attack Scott Wilden (Wexford, Pa.) (10-4, 7:14) and Revak (11-5, 4:02) for third-quarter scores. Wilden finished the contest with four points (2 goals, 2 assists) and a caused turnover, while Revak scored three goals on a team-high 14 shots. Howell also four points (1 goal, 3 assists) and added a caused turnover to his record-reaching five ground balls. Freshman attack Jackson Melnick (Milford, Pa.) helped Ornstein keep the Griffins in possession with eight ground balls, while junior goalkeeper Jake Miller (Castle Rock, Colo.) recorded 12 saves and 4 ground balls in the win (4-2).
Chestnut Hill College continues a busy week of CACC competition on Thursday, April 22, when they host Wilmington University in a 10:00 a.m. contest.
