CANTON, N.Y. – The No. 12 St. Lawrence University men's lacrosse team snapped No. 19 Union's three-game win streak with a 17-3 win Saturday at North Country Field. With the win, the Saints clinch the Liberty league regular season title and the No. 1 seed for the third consecutive year. Jon Miller (Yarmouth, Maine) scored all three goals for the Dutchmen (9-3, 3-2 Liberty) , who wrap up the conference portion of their season on the road at Hamilton on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

 

Senior attackman Kevin Russell opened the scoring with an assist going to junior Peter Carroll for the Saints (8-2, 5-0), who won their 19th straight regular season conference game. Union tied it at 1-1 30 seconds later on a man-up goal by Jon Miller.

 

The Saints would use a seven-goal run to establish a solid cushion, with the charge led by sophomore Will McKee. The Old Greenwich, Conn., native scored four goals, while Russell added his second of the day and junior midfielder Kyle Benton chipped in two tallies for an 8-1 lead. With his team being out-shot 24-8 in the opening half, Union netminder Chris Keinath (Wilbraham, Mass.) made 10 first half saves.

 

The Dutchmen would pull to within six goals at 9-3 by the end of the opening half, as Jon Miller scored twice in the final 5:07 of the second quarter to complete the visiting team's scoring. McKee scored St. Lawrence's ninth goal with an assist going to junior midfielder P.J. Santora.

 

The second half would prove to be all St. Lawrence, though, as the Saints scored all eight goals in the half to earn the No. 1 seed in the 2008 Liberty League Tournament.  McKee scored a man-up goal at 5:28 of the third quarter, and was followed by junior Alex Slauson (2) and Russell for a 13-3 lead after 45:00 minutes of action.

 

McKee would put the finishing touches on a nine-point outing with his seventh goal, second on the University's all-time list for goals in a game, and second assist in a four-goal fourth quarter for the home team.  Benton added his third goal of the contest in the fourth as well, while senior Derek Hansen and junior Collin Moon got into the goal-scoring as well to bring the game to its final of 17-3.

 

Carroll finished with five assists for St. Lawrence, while Russell closed with three goals and two assists. Junior goaltender Thomas Hollingsworth had his best career Liberty League outing with a nine-save performance including four in the second and third quarters to ensure the Saints of the win.

 

After Wednesday's Liberty League regular season finale at Hamilton, the Dutchmen will return home for a 6 p.m. Senior Night game against Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday, April 26, at Frank Bailey Field.