WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University men's lacrosse team earned its second straight win to start the 2014 season with a 16-4 non-league victory over Alvernia Saturday afternoon.
Freshman Stephen LaTona led SU (2-0) to the victory with a game-high five goals and four assists for nine points.
LaTona, who had five goals in the Hornets season opening win at Southern Virginia on Tuesday, got things started against the Crusaders (0-1) with a goal off of a Casey Edsall assist just 89 seconds into Saturday's contest.
After Drew Brooks set up Tilghman Sanders at 9:05, LaTona figured in the squad's next two goals to give coach Tim Marshall's club a 4-0 before the game was nine minutes old.
After Alvernia got itself back into it with a pair of goals to sandwich the end of the first period, SU ripped off 10 straight to seize total control.
Shenandoah held AC without a goal from the 6:31 mark of the second until just 10:31 remained in the contest.
In that time, the Hornets expanded the lead from two goals to 12.
The two teams traded the final four goals of the game.
In addition to LaTona's nine points, Jack Greaney had three goals, Sanders and Brooks each chipped in two goals and one assist and Aaron Paul two goals.
Freshman Ben Judy made 11 saves to earn his second victory in as many starts.
SU outshot the Crusaders 48-23, had a 39-19 advantage in groundballs and saw the Crusaders commit 29 turnovers.
Alvernia won 12 of 23 faceoffs.
Shenandoah is back in action on Monday with a 4:00 non-league contest against Hanover.
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