By ALEX HORTON
Contributing Writer
The physical play of the Le Moyne Dolphins set the tone early for the game against The College Saint Rose Golden Knights with a 2-1 victory during the annual Upstate Challenge. It was a physical game from the very beginning, and both teams looked ready for it.
“The physical games are where the best teams show up,” said Dolphin senior forward Michael Spadine. “We play best when both teams are physical.”
Spadine scored the game’s first goal in the 14th minute off the assist from junior back Michael Kuss.
Both teams knew what a win in this game meant. It was a must win game for both teams and LeMoyne came out on top. Saint Rose did not go down without a fight, though. Freshman forward Tyler Casavant scored in the 26th minute to bring back the Golden Knights to an even score of 1-1.
“The goal really lifted our spirits,” said Coach Matt Jones.
The goal shifted the momentum of the game until the beginning of the second half. Dolphins junior midfielder Jamie Carolissen scored off the assist from junior back Cal Fitch with minute and a twenty five seconds gone by in the second half.
“I told them at the half that the next goal would win the game,” said Jones. Unfortunately for the Golden Knights the next goal did win the game, as the Dolphins shut down the game defensively, not giving Saint Rose many chances to score in the second half.
Winning, and physical play; that was Lemoyne’s game plan coming in,
“I thought the guys battled hard, and out competed them,” Le Moyne coach Tom Bonus said. “I really got on them at the half.”
Whatever Bonus told his team at the half was executed and earned the Dolphins a 2-1 victory as they out shined the Golden Knights.
Up next for the Golden Knights is another showdown with Southern New Hampshire, this time it comes in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference tournament. The Golden Knights just barely slipped into the eighth seed after Stonehill failed to punch their ticket during their match with the Dolphins. Whether the Golden Knights win or lose, this season will still go down as one of their best in the program’s history. The season marks just the third time the Golden Knights have conjured eight wins during the regular season. The two others occurred in 1989 and 1990.
