By Ryan McCord
What can Brown do for you? The Pride men’s lacrosse team had all the answers to that question after a 14-4 home-opening victory over Brown University at a blustery James Shuart Stadium.
The Blue & Gold dominated in all phases, scoring seven of the first eight goals en route to the first victory of the 2006 campaign and avenging last season’s lopsided defeat against the Bears.
“It felt great to get that first win,” senior co-captain John Orsen said. “We had the guys over at the house afterwards and everyone was in pretty good spirits. They beat us up pretty good last year, so that gives us a lot more confidence going into Hopkins.
Pride junior attacker Athan Iannucci continued to make a mockery of opposing defenses, resetting career-highs with seven points and five goals and leading an offense that controlled the ball for most of the match.
“You know that kid who is always carrying his stick on campus,” Brett Moyer, the 2005 CAA Defensive Player of the Year said. “That’s Athan for you. He’s always working to get better and it’s paying off. He knows where to put the ball, he’s always in the right spot and he’s one of the best pure scorers in the nation.”
Head coach John Danowski and the rest of the Pride coaching staff hope they can rely on Iannucci to orchestrate the offense in correlation to Moyer’s sound influence on defense.
“Last year Athan missed all of fall and preseason because of back surgery, so his development was slow,” Danowski said. “This year he’s had the whole fall and preseason, so that should equal continuing improvement.”
Pride senior attacker Chris Unterstein complemented Iannucci’s big day with a career high six points of his own (3g, 3a). This included a key unassisted goal triggered by a clear from goalie Matthew Southard, igniting a second period scoring spree.
“Matt played well again,” said Danowski, who earned his 176th career with the Pride. “Any time you can stand in goal and only give up three scores for the game, that’s a definite plus. The guys were playing well in front of him, forcing bad angle shots. He made the saves that he had to make.”
The sophomore brother tandem of Kevin and Mike Unterstein along with senior John Gorman were able to get under the Bears’ skin with much needed dirty work, such as drawing penalties, pushing, hacking and getting an occasional “de-cleater” throughout play.
“We spent a lot of time discussing roles this week, accepting them in order for the team to be successful. I thought the guys really responded to that,” Danowski said.
Danowski continued to touch base with the fact the Pride needs to improve on shot accuracy in order to play to their potential.
“Fifteen shots in the first quarter and only scoring twice, we dominated the game yet they could have got back in it,” Danowski said. “Fortunately, we put enough pressure on them defensively.”