Cardinals upended by No. 18 Tigers on the road

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – The Cardinals dropped a 10-4 decision at No. 18 Hampden-Sydney on Saturday afternoon.  The teams were tied at two after one quarter but the Tigers (6-2) outscored CUA 6-1 in the second and third to surge in front and ultimately earn the win.  Justin Schaufler scored a team-high two goals for the Cardinals (7-3).

Schaufler gave CUA a 1-0 lead 1:55 in off an assist from Chris Fuccillo but Hampden-Sydney scored the next two goals to go in front 2-1.  Schaufler found the back of the net for a second time with 4:25 on the clock and the game was knotted at two after one quarter.

Carter Mavromatis put Hampden-Sydney back on top with his goal 4:37 before halftime but Fuccillo evened things at three with his score 35 seconds later. Two straight goals by the Tigers closed out the half though and CUA found itself down 5-3 at intermission.

Hampden-Sydney controlled the third quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 3-0 to build a five-goal advantage heading into the final 15 minutes.

Kyle Fox’s goal early in the fourth put the Tigers ahead 9-3, but Sean Cummins put an end to the Hampden-Sydney run with his score at the 10:43 mark to make it a five-goal game.  Nate Cundy answered for the home team with a goal at the 7:24 mark and that all but sealed it.

Hampden-Sydney held a 31-29 advantage in shots and a 33-28 advantage in ground balls.  CUA was 16 of 23 on clear attempts and the Cardinals committed 26 turnovers.

Sean McKenna made ten stops in goal for CUA and added a team-high six ground balls.  Tom Scotto won nine face-offs and scooped up three GBs, while Ryan Doyle totaled four.

Mavromatis led the Tigers with three goals and Cole Hawthorne handed out three assists.  Three Hampden-Sydney players picked up three ground balls and Nick West caused a game-high three turnovers.

CUA is off until next Saturday, April 2 when the Cardinals open their 2011 Landmark Conference schedule at home vs. Drew.  The opening face-off is set for 1 p.m. from inside Cardinal Stadium.