Men's Lacrosse Jumps on Coker Early to Move to 2-0

HARTSVILLE, SC – Catawba got three goals each from Braden Artem (Acton, Ontario, CANADA/Christ the King) and Steven Ridolfo (Charlotte, NC/Providence HS/Gettysburg) in a 12-6 victory over host Coker in men’s lacrosse action on Wednesday night at Byerly Park.  The 12th-ranked Catawba Indians improve to 2-0, while the Cobras fall to 1-1.

The Indians never trailed, scoring the game’s first four goals and led 7-2 at the half.  Cory Losselyong (Lewisville, NC/W. Forsyth HS) got things started just over a minute into the contest on a helper from Artem.  Tom Cullop (New Windsor, MD/S. Carroll HS) had two goals in the opening salvo for the 4-0 edge after a quarter.

Timothy Smith got the Cobras on the board early in the second quarter, but Artem and Brett Howe (Moseley, VA/Cosby HS) answered with goals a minute apart for a 6-1 lead with just under 12 minutes left in the half.  The teams traded goals in the third quarter before the Indians put the contest away with three goals to start the final period.

Artem added three assists to total six points on the night.  Cullop and Losselyong each had a pair of goals.  Michael Pecchia (Coquitlam, BC, CANADA/Heritage Woods) made 13 saves in goal for the Indians.  John Bretton scored three goals to lead Coker.  Smith added two, while Tim Ryan stopped 16 shots.

Catawba held a 42-35 edge in shots and picked up 42 ground balls to 25 for the Cobras.  The Indians were also 14-of-20 on face-offs, led by Daniel Couchenour (Fort Mill, SC/Nations Ford HS), who won 13 of his 18 attempts.

VIDEO: Cullop Discusses Wins and Upcoming Game