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LU men's lacrosse team enjoying early success

Fielding easily their strongest roster since the emergence of the field lacrosse program at Laurentian, the Voyageurs have opened the 2014 CUFLA (Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association) schedule with three wins in their first four games.
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The Greater Sudbury Lacrosse Association is underway. File photo.
Fielding easily their strongest roster since the emergence of the field lacrosse program at Laurentian, the Voyageurs have opened the 2014 CUFLA (Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association) schedule with three wins in their first four games.

Kicking off the season with four straight home games, the Voyageurs blasted the McMaster Marauders 14-2 on Sept. 6, with Phil Romanet scoring four times and Clint Lamarsh and Mike Kussman adding two goals each.

Matt Volpe, Paul Jelley, Matt Kussman, Brad Gerrow, Neil McInroy and Blair McDonald, with his first-ever CUFLA goal, rounded out the scoring. With Jelley dominating the faceoffs, and defenders Austin Chiasson, Richie Debonte, Evan Connolly, Cam Genge, Graeme George and Chris Browne enjoying outstanding games, LU goaltender Ian Walters was able to comfortably record the win.

A rough third quarter proved costly the next day as Laurentian squandered an early lead, dropping a 10-8 decision to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs. Romanet matched his four-goal effort from Saturday, with Lamarsh chipping in with two of his own.

McInroy and Volpe closed out the offence for the Voyageurs, who led 5-4 at the half, but surrendered four unanswered goals prior to the start of the fourth quarter. Thankfully, the loss did not linger with the team as Lamarsh lit up the University of Toronto Varsity Blues for seven goals the next weekend, leading LU to a 15-10 triumph over the visitors from southern Ontario.

John van der Giesen (4), Romanet (3) and Jelley also helped power the Laurentian attack. On Sunday, the Voyageurs completely controlled the second half of play, taking a 5-4 lead and turning it into a 14-6 victory over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

Van der Giesen held the hot hand, finding the back of the net six times for the blue and gold, with Lamarsh netting a hat trick and Romanet scoring a pair, giving his 13th on the year.

Volpe, Jelley and McDonald capped off the potent LU attack, while newcomer Joel Senecal distinguished himself by earning a rare three-minute penalty on his very first shift of CUFLA competition.

With Jelley again controlling the faceoff circle and Walters co-ordinating clear after clear from the back end, the Voyageurs methodically dismantled the visitors from Waterloo.

Having won no more than a handful of regular season games in prior years, and still searching for a franchise first post-season victory, the Voyageurs begin a seven-game road swing on Sept. 27-28, battling the U of T Blues and Wilfrid Laurier.

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