Georgia Tech Rocks Spartans
(from a Georgia Tech release)
ATLANTA, GA -- The Georgia Tech men's lacrosse team raced out to a quick lead against Michigan State and never looked back, posting a a 15-8 win that improved the Yellow Jackets to 5-0 on the season.
Georgia Tech, ranked No. 1 in the most recent Under Armour MCLA Coaches Poll for the first time in program history and the first time an SELC team has been voted No. 1 in MCLA history, did not waste any time in showing they deserve the top spot as Timmy Peterson scored six seconds into the game to give Tech a lead it would never relinquish.
Freshman goalie Dennis LiCalzi led the defense with 14 saves while the Jacket offense seized control of the game quickly, building the lead to 4-1 before the Spartans would again answer to make it 4-2. Senior All-American Holland Frost then raced past the MSU defense with two seconds on the clock to close out the quarter with Tech leading 5-2.
In the second quarter, Tech continued its dominance. After trading early goals, Tech netted three straight goals, highlighted by Will Clayton’s first career goal.
In that span, Connolly and Peterson also scored to give Tech a 9- 3 lead. The Spartans would answer the run with a goal from the freshman Spartan Standout, Bennett Osterink, who scored five goals on the day. each team netted another goal, with Tech’s Jack Topping scoring his first career goal in the process. Tech would go to the half leading 10-4
The second half started quickly for the Jackets as Griffin Goggans scored on his first two touches to increase Tech’s lead to eight. The Yellow Jacket defense continued its strong play as they were tested by the aggressive dodging by the Spartans, but turned away numerous attempts to turn the game around.
The Spartans would find the back of the net a couple of times, but Tech would answer with short time when with 15 seconds left in the quarter, Goggans added his third of the day to give Tech a seven goal lead entering the final stanza.
As the final horn sounded the Jackets held a seven-goal advantage, preserving their first ever No. 1 ranking.