Box Score Wheeling, W.Va. - No. 15 Wheeling Jesuit University traveled to Victory Field in Lafayette Hill, Pa. this weekend to take on non-conference opponent, Chestnut Hill College. The Griffins started off the game ready to compete taking a 2-1 at the end of the 1st quarter, but it was the Cardinals who were able to score four unanswered goals spanning halftime that helped them leave with a 10-7 decision on a windy day. Freshman attackman Dereck Downs (Toronto, Ontario) led the team with three goals and one assist.

"I am really proud of the way our team battled today, we played with a scrappy toughness that we will need if we want to make some noise in our conference," said Dugan of his squad that hasn't been at full strength all year due to injuries. "We're continuing to evolve as a team right now and I think we are starting to figure out exactly what we need to do to compete in the ECAC. If the young players keep developing and we can get healthy then I think we will be a very good team as we move into April."
 
Chestnut Hill College (2-3) was faced with an early deficit after freshman midfielder Sam Horning (Colorado Springs, Colo.) staked Wheeling Jesuit University (4-2) to a 1-0 head start at 12:21 of the first period. The Griffins, who rattled the crossbar on two of their first three shots, stormed ahead with a three-goal spurt spearheaded by sophomore attack Alec Dambach (Howell, N.J.), who scored unassisted to get the home side on the board, 1-1 (10:30). Markey hooked up with sophomore midfielder Justin Albarran (Freehold, N.J.) for the go-ahead marker, 2-1 (0:22), before Dambach set up junior attack Michael Plaia (Hicksville, N.Y.) almost five minutes into the second quarter, 3-1 (10:25).
 
WJU senior attackman Duston Doudelet (Toronto, Ontario) erased the Griffin gap with back-to-back goals, but Griffin midfielder Christopher Mertens (Freeport, N.Y.) got it right back with his first goal of the season, 4-3 (5:25).  The Cards took control from there, with freshman attack Dereck Downs (Toronto, Ontario) scoring 18 seconds later, 4-4 (5:07) and ultimately giving the visitors the lead for good on a marker 18 seconds before halftime, 5-4 (0:18). WJU continued to shut down the Chestnut Hill College attack, holding the hosts scoreless in the third period and taking a 7-4 lead into the final frame. Markey's unassisted tally ended the Cardinals stranglehold and brought the Griffins to within 7-5 with 11:31 remaining, but WJU scored twice in a 29-second span to extend the margin to 9-5 midway through the quarter (7:30). Markey scored by himself and fed freshman attack Dylan Klusaritz (Slatington, Pa.) for a man-up goal, 9-7 (1:11), but the Cardinals scored 10 ticks later to end Chestnut Hill College's comeback hopes.
 
Downs and Doudelet each netted three goals for WJU, with the former adding an assist. Horning and fellow freshman Matt Lee (Toronto, Ontario) scored twice apiece, while another rookie – midfielder Zak Semere (Springfield, Va.) – gave the Cardinals a big boost by winning 8-of-12 (66.7%) faceoffs and scooping up six ground balls. Freshman goalkeeper Collin Smith (Plymouth, Va.) finished with 12 saves (10 in the second half) to earn the win (4-2).

Dambach supported Markey with a three-point afternoon on a goal and two assists for Chestnut Hill College, which enjoyed a 35-29 shot advantage. Mertens picked up a team-best four ground balls and caused a turnover, while sophomore Daniel DePasquale (Livingston, N.J.), three caused turnovers and two ground balls, and junior Derick Darnulc (Baldwin, N.Y.), three ground balls and two caused turnovers, served as the Griffins' defensive stoppers. Sophomore Thomas McDermott (Holmes, Pa.) (2-3) racked up 12 saves between the pipes, with six coming in each half.
 
The Cardinals open up conference play this weekend as they are set to face Lindenwood University Saturday March, 21st at 1:00 P.M. at Bishop Schmitt Field.