LAKEWOOD, NJ (March 11, 2023) - Georgian Court Men's Lacrosse led Assumption by just a goal, 7-6, at halftime. The Lions though took it to another level in the second, locking down on defense and continuing to score en route to a 13-7 win. The win moves GCU to 3-4 on the season.

How it Happened
• Georgian Court held a 14-9 advantage in the face-off circle allowing them to set up their offense.
• The Lions were selective with their shots and accurate. They put 28 of 41 shots on net (68%) while Assumption hit net on 33 of 57 (58%).
• GCU allowed Assumption to hang around thanks in part to 19 turnovers. They were 24-32 on clears. The Greyhounds were 19-20 on clears and turned the ball over just nine times.
• Assumption took three penalties, all three of the 60-second variety with GCU going 1-3. Assumption was 0-2 on their two 30-second man-up opportunities. 
• It took nearly five minutes into the game, but Georgian Court found their offense soon after. Brett Bridges scored from a Millan Webster pass and the Lions were off and running. 
• Justin Iannarone won the next face-off and 29 seconds after Bridges' goal, Michael Ventresca lit the lamp for a 2-0 lead. Another Iannarone face-off win and this time all it took was 25 seconds for Daniel Burnham to score.
• The Lions put three on the board in a 56 second span forcing an Assumption timeout.
• Tallen Smith added his name to the stat sheet with a goal and the Greyhounds put up two before the first ended with the Lions on top 4-2.
• The Greyhounds started the second with a pair of goals and at the 12:10 mark, the game was tied at four.
• An unnecessary penalty gave the Lions the man-advantage and Brett Bridges scored a highlight reel goal going behind his back to put the Lions up 5-4.
 

Blink and you might miss this Brett Bridges behind the back goal! @GeorgianCourtML #GoLions #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/8qMJDUPnrz

— Georgian Court University Lions (@GCULions) March 11, 2023

• Ventresca scored his second just 44 seconds later putting GCU back up two.
• The Lions were able to kill of a penalty, but Assumption still scored twice to tie the game at six.
• With 2:57 to go before the half, Vincent Burns put the Lions back on top as they took a 7-6 lead into intermission.
• Out of the break, Burns and Vincent Giunta found the back of the net to give the Lions some breathing room and Vincent Burkhart took over from there.
• Burkhart saved 13 of 14 shots faced in the second half, frustrating the Greyhounds the latter part of the game.
• Tyler Burns and Giunta gave the Lions their largest lead, 11-7, heading to the fourth.
• Burkhart was at his best in the final frame. He stopped all eight shots on target. Smith and Ventresca each tacked on goals in the 13-7 final score.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Burkhart finished the day with 26 saves and a .788 save percentage.
• Daniel Burnham scored a game-high four points with a goal and three assists. He also grabbed a pair of ground balls.
• Michael Ventresca led GCU with three goals.
• Brett Bridges, Vincent Burns, Vincent Giunta and Tallen Smith all scored twice.
• Justin Iannarone was 13-21 on face-offs with eight ground ball pickups.

For the Greyhounds
• CJ Wiper, Ryan Healey and Brayden Maclean all scored twice.
• Nolan Sheehan had a goal and two ground balls.
• Nick Polymeros was 7-16 on face-offs with four ground balls.
• Tom Raeke grabbed three ground balls and caused three turnovers.
• Colin Malone made 15 saves with a .536 save percentage.

News and Notes
• Justin Iannarone picked up his 200th ground ball.
• Vincent Burkhart surpassed 100 saves on the season.
• Burkhart's seven goals allowed are the fewest in a full 60 minutes.
• Daniel Burnham is just the third Lion to ever score 80 goals in a career.
• GCU has scored a man-up goal in four straight games.
• This is the Lions third straight game with a shot-on-goal percentage of at least 65%.

Up Next
• Georgian Court hits the road next Saturday. They play at Pace Saturday, March 18 at 12 p.m.