LAKEWOOD, NJ (April 18, 2023) - Coming into the day, there were two unbeatens in the CACC. Now there is only one. The top spot in the league standings belongs to Georgian Court after their 9-5 win over Chestnut Hill Tuesday. The win is the Lions sixth straight and puts them at 9-5 overall and 5-0 in the CACC.

How it Happened
• The Georgian Court defense was lights out. They shut out Chestnut Hill in two different periods.
• Much of the game was evenly matched. Georgian Court totaled 43 shots to the Griffins 36. The Lions put 28 shots on net and CHC had 20.
• Chestnut Hill doubled up the Lions on the face-off, 12-6.
• Turnovers favored the Lions who committed 13 while Chestnut Hill lost the ball 18 times. GCU was 22-25 on clear attempts and the Griffins 19-23.
• The Lions committed two 30-second penalties and killed off both. They were 1-3 playing a man-up as CHC was called for three penalties, totaling 2:30.
• On the ground, Georgian Court got to 36 ground balls and Chestnut Hill reached 29.

First Half
• Both goalkeepers were tested early. Austin Jones was forced to make two saves in the first two minutes. Vincent Burkhart matched Jones for the Lions.
• Chestnut Hill nearly got up 1-0 as Nate Matthews beat Burkhart, but his shot rang off the post to keep the game scoreless.
• The Lions were able to capitalize and scored 5:36 into the game as senior Michael Ventresca gave GCU a 1-0 lead.
• Not long after it was another senior, Daniel Burnham, making it 2-0 in favor of the Lions.
• Burkhart made three more saves in the final three minutes. He totaled five in the first period and the Lions were shutting out the Griffins 2-0 after one.
• Less than three minutes into the second though, CHC got their first goal. A turnover gave the Griffins possession and they went down the field and quickly cut the lead in half.
• Another turnover gave the Griffins the ball back and 1:23 after the first goal, Chestnut Hill found the equalizer.
• The score stayed that way for much of the second period as Jones and Burkhart each made saves. Jones made five after the Griffins tied it.
• With under a minute to play, Chestnut Hill took a one-minute slashing penalty. The Lions were able to convert as Tallen Smith one-timed a Vincent Giunta pass up high and into the net to give GCU a 3-2 lead at the half.

Second Half
• Georgian Court pitched another shutout in the third. Burkhart made four saves in the frame and the Lions forced four turnovers.
• Three minutes into the half, GCU got their two-goal cushion back. Daniel Burnham found Brett Bridges who beat Jones through the five-hole for a 4-2 lead.
• Three minutes after that it was Bridges again from a feed from Tyler Burns. This time he finished high and the Lions led 5-2.
• The Lions outscored Chestnut Hill 3-0 in the third. Just like in the second quarter, with the game clock winding down, Tallen Smith scored and GCU was up 6-2 with one quarter left.
• In the fourth it was the twin connection of Tyler and Vincent Burns. Tyler found Vincent near the front of the net who did the rest as GCU scored their fifth straight goal and took what seemed liked a commanding 7-2 lead.
• The Griffins though answered a minute later getting a goal from Will Duddy. A minute after that it was a 7-4 game. 
• Chestnut Hill cut the lead to two, 7-5, with 3:46 to play and had all the momentum on their side.
• The Griffins won the draw and looked to get closer but Buckhart made a pair of big saves to keep the game at a two-goal lead.
• With 1:46 left to play, Vincent Giunta gave GCU their three-goal lead back as the Griffins simultaneously committed a penalty. 
• The Griffins killed off the penalty but Giunta put the hammer down with another goal shortly after to seal the win, 9-5. 

Lions Stat Leaders
• Vincent Burkhart made 15 saves in net with a .750 save percentage.
• Vincent Giunta totaled three points with a pair of goals and an assist.
• Tallen Smith and Brett Bridges each had two goals as well. Brides also caused a pair of turnovers and grabbed three grounders. 
• Daniel Burnham scored a goal and an assist.
• Justin Iannarone won six face-offs and grabbed six ground balls.
• Max Dennington grabbed three grounders and caused two turnovers.
• Joe Murphy caused two turnovers as well with two ground balls.

For the Griffins
• Austin Jones made 19 saves in goal. 
• There were five different CHC goal scorers.
• Zach Schultz was 12-18 on face-offs with nine ground balls.
• Colby Seneca picked up three ground balls and caused two turnovers.

News and Notes
• The Lions five wins in conference match a program record when they were 5-0 in 2018. They'll have two chances to set a new high-water mark.
• GCU has won six straight, one shy of a program record also set in 2018. 
• The nine goals is the fewest the Lions have scored in a win since winning 7-5 over St. Thomas Aquinas in 2019. 
• Michael Ventresca played in his 70th career game. Third most ever by a Lion.
• Max Dennington is the fourth Lion to ever cause 30 turnovers in a career.
• Joe Murphy played in his 30th game and caused his 25th career turnover.
• Justin Iannarone surpassed 250 career ground balls.
• Vincent Giunta scored his 25th career goal.
• Brett Bridges scored his 25th goal and 40th point. 

Up Next
• The Lions finish out the regular season with two road games. Their penultimate game comes Saturday, April 22 against Bridgeport.