Saturday, February 8
Philadelphia, PA
12:00 PM
Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
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11
Saint Joseph's University
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Sacred Heart
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Saint Joseph's
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Spencer Leads Men's Lacrosse to Season-Opening Win
2/8/2025 5:01:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Tucker Spencer scored a career-high seven goals
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.— Tucker Spencer scored a career-high seven goals to lead the Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team to a 12-11 victory over Saint Joseph's on the road to open the 2025 season on Saturday afternoon. Ryan Rooney tallied a career-high five points from three goals and two assists, while John Murray and Will Moulton each added a goal.
Records:
Sacred Heart: 1-0
Saint Joseph's: 0-1
Leaders:
Tucker Spencer: 7 goals
Ryan Rooney: 3 goals, 2 assists
John Murray: 1 goal, 4 assists
Jake Ward: 2 assists
Of Note:
Spencer quickly opened the day with his first goal before Saint Joe's scored two in a row to take its only lead. The Pioneers answered with three straight goals, including two from Spencer, to take a 4-2 lead after the first quarter.
Spencer added one more to get the second quarter started, to give SHU a 5-2 advantage. SJU answered with two consecutive goals to pull within one, but Sacred Heart once again scored three straight goals, including a pair from Rooney and one from Murray, to hold an 8-4 advantage at the half.
The Hawks offense turned it around in the second half, outscoring SHU 2-1 in the third quarter. Another Spencer goal extended the Pioneers lead, 9-4, but Saint Joe's scored back-to-back goals to pull 9-6, heading into the final frame.
The Hawks continued their four-goal run to cut the deficit to one, 9-8, in the opening two and a half minutes of play. Rooney completed his hat trick to put SHU back ahead by two before both teams traded goals through the game's remaining six and a half minutes. With SHU leading by two, The Hawks pulled within one with 10 seconds remaining, but Luke Romanek won the final face-off of the game to hold possession and secure the win.
Romanek dominated face-offs, going 17-25, while picking up eight ground balls. Alex Pazienza made 15 saves in goal for the Pioneers.
Up Next:
Sacred Heart will return to action at home next Saturday, February 15, at noon to face Holy Cross on Campus Field.
Records:
Sacred Heart: 1-0
Saint Joseph's: 0-1
Leaders:
Tucker Spencer: 7 goals
Ryan Rooney: 3 goals, 2 assists
John Murray: 1 goal, 4 assists
Jake Ward: 2 assists
Of Note:
Spencer quickly opened the day with his first goal before Saint Joe's scored two in a row to take its only lead. The Pioneers answered with three straight goals, including two from Spencer, to take a 4-2 lead after the first quarter.
Spencer added one more to get the second quarter started, to give SHU a 5-2 advantage. SJU answered with two consecutive goals to pull within one, but Sacred Heart once again scored three straight goals, including a pair from Rooney and one from Murray, to hold an 8-4 advantage at the half.
The Hawks offense turned it around in the second half, outscoring SHU 2-1 in the third quarter. Another Spencer goal extended the Pioneers lead, 9-4, but Saint Joe's scored back-to-back goals to pull 9-6, heading into the final frame.
The Hawks continued their four-goal run to cut the deficit to one, 9-8, in the opening two and a half minutes of play. Rooney completed his hat trick to put SHU back ahead by two before both teams traded goals through the game's remaining six and a half minutes. With SHU leading by two, The Hawks pulled within one with 10 seconds remaining, but Luke Romanek won the final face-off of the game to hold possession and secure the win.
Romanek dominated face-offs, going 17-25, while picking up eight ground balls. Alex Pazienza made 15 saves in goal for the Pioneers.
Up Next:
Sacred Heart will return to action at home next Saturday, February 15, at noon to face Holy Cross on Campus Field.
Team Stats
SHU
SJU
Shots
34
44
Turnovers
20
14
Caused Turnovers
9
11
Faceoffs Won
17
9
Extra-Man Opps
6
4
Ground Balls
33
29
Game Leaders
G
7
A
0
FO
-
Pen
1-30
GB
1
CT
0
G
3
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
1
A
3
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
1
Players Mentioned
A
/ Men's LacrosseM
/ Men's Lacrosse
GK
/ Men's Lacrosse
FO
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's LacrosseM
/ Men's Lacrosse
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