MADISON, N.J. - The Haverford College men's lacrosse team (4-4) closed out the non-conference portion of the 2024 schedule Sunday with a dominating 27-5 victory over Drew (5-3) in the Leanos Cup third-place match at Ranger Stadium. Haverford scored its most goals in program history in the Sunday matinee, eclipsing the 26 goals scored twice in program single-game history, most recently exactly 28 years ago against SUNY Maritime on March 17, 1996. Haverford also scored 26 against Widener on April 4, 1990.
The high-powered offense for the Fords churned out 68 shots, putting 47 on frame. The Fords scored four man-up goals in the contest. Four different Haverford players added three or more goals, as Reid Tietjen (6), Matt Richards (5), and Evan Wolpert (4) all set the tone offensively as Haverford built its large lead, while Ethan Schlam recorded three in the second half. Samuel Millie added two, with Philip Passalaqua, Toby Berner, Will Benson, Seamus McNally, Tyler Vendetti, Jack Freel, and Jonathan Moon all contributing to the scoresheet.
Of the 35 faceoffs, Haverford won 25 of them, commanding the game at the X as Teddy Carlin went a nearly flawless 16-for-17 with nine ground balls to lead the charge. Drew Buck was 7-of-16, and Alexander Wysk added a pair of wins. The Fords scooped 49 ground balls to just 19 for the Rangers. Haverford's defense caused 14 turnovers, with Ronan West and Millie each adding a pair.
The Fords raced out on a 10-1 run in the first quarter, aided by a pair of goals from Matt Richards and strikes from Evan Wolpert and Reid Tietjen. Tietjen opened the scoring with a tally at the 14:08 mark, and Wolpert gave the Fords a 2-0 cushion before Drew pulled a goal back from Tommy Lamore. Richards then scored twice in the span of just over 30 seconds to extend the run. Samuel Millie scored off an assist from Kolin Brandeis to make the Haverford advantage 5-1, and Matt Richards then lit the lamp again, completing his hat-trick with 6:08 showing on the first-quarter clock.
The seventh Haverford goal of the game came off the stick of Jonathan Moon before Tietjen completed his hat-trick with back-to-back goals at 3:51 and 2:13. Wolpert grabbed his second in the waning moments of the first.
Philip Passalaqua added Haverford's 11th score in the opening moments of the second quarter, and Richards tallied his fourth just moments later. After Drew finally stopped the run with a Cole Kirker goal, Tietjen found Seamus McNally for Haverford's 13th of the contest. With 3:17 left before the halftime break, Tyler Vendetti found the back of the net off an assist from Roan Spencer.
Haverford was not done in the second period, adding its 15th goal of the half as the Fords made quick work in transition, with Abraham saving a shot from Charlie Collins with under a minute left and Moon finding Tietjen with plenty of shooting space for a 13-goal cushion.
Richards added his fifth of the contest a minute plus into the third quarter, with Wolpert finishing a hat-trick before Tietjen grabbed his fifth. Wolpert added his fourth conversion at the 3:36 mark. Tietjen and Millie each scored moments later, with Schlam adding his first with 29 seconds remaining in the frame. Berner, Schlam (2), and Freel scored in the fourth before Benson put in the record-breaking tally with 94 seconds left in the contest as the lead reached 22 goals.
Jacob Abraham picked up the win between the pipes, allowing just two goals and adding six saves. Andy Tieso and Colby Freeman each also saw time between the pipes, combining for three saves.
Haverford now shifts its focus to the challenge of the Centennial Conference slate, which begins on Saturday, March 23, with a matchup against No. 22 Franklin & Marshall. The game will begin at 3 p.m. on Swan Field.