CONTACT:Alex Smith

DATE: February 23, 2002

#1 Colorado State Blows Away Utah Valley State 20-3

On an absolutely gorgeous day in Fort Collins, CO, the #1 Colorado State Ram lacrosse team rode the emotion of a 7-0 first quarter and 15-0 half-time score to a 20-3 victory over a hungry but outmanned Utah Valley State College squad. Even with head coach Flip Naumburg five hundred miles
away in New Mexico, the Rams rallied around assistant coach Jason Seidel and ran away with the game early.

The Rams got the scoring going at 13:23 of the first as freshman Thomas Robinson (2 goals) scored on a feed from Mike Napolilli (1g, 3a). Just ten seconds later, Napolilli would get net on a mini-break from Jared Katz (1a). The first quarter saw three of these such spurts as the Rams got another goal from Robinson at 4:28 and Nick Stanitz-Harper at (3g) 4:19. Stanitz-Harper would get the natural hat-trick later in the quarter when he scored at 2:06 and 1:58. Despite these fast break goals, CSU struggled atthe face-off circle against an athletic Utah Valley midfield.

The second quarter saw more of the same as the CSU defense flexed its muscles a bit. Mark Plonkey (1g, 2a) had two spectacular coast to coast dodge and feeds in the quarter as the Rams put their stamp on the game. Against the CSU starters in the first half, the Wolverines were only able to put six shots on goal. Jeremy Smith, Jeff Schmid, and Ryan Price were solid in the half as they allowed few scoring chances in front of Alex Smith (6 saves, 0 goals against). The Rams would go into the break up 15-0. Andy Schultz (2g) played a good game scoring on feeds from Kelten Johnson (1g, 2a) and Ryan Davis (4a). The CSU man-up also looked good with Kale Nelson (2g, 1a) leading the charge.

After half-time, Colorado State couldn't get anything going as they struggled to find their rhythm. The Wolverines scored three goals in 2:20 to end the quarter at 17-3.  The Rams pulled it together in the fourth out scoring UVSC 3-0 to bring to the end.  Freshmen Jeff Sutherland (2g) and Kellin Bershinsky (D) gave a glimpse of the future for the Rams as they turned in solid second half efforts.

Next up for Colorado State (3-0 overall, 1-0 league) is Northern Colorado on February 27th as they prepare to host #__ Minnesota-Duluth on March 3rd. On March 2nd, the Rams will host Team Galyans from Denver. Team Galyans is comprised mostly of post-collegiate club players, including 2001 alumni
Pat Coy and Mike Roth.

Goals:

CSU: Stanitz-Harper (3), Nelson, Schultz, Hasson, Robinson and Sutherland (2), Napolilli, Johnson, Clark, Epstein, Plonkey, Disney, Ackman

Assists:

CSU: Davis (4), Napolilli (3), Johnson and Plonkey (2), Katz, Do. Priebe, Nelson, Clark, Everett

Saves:

CSU: Smith (30:00 minutes, 6 saves, 0 goals against), Aubrecht (15:00 min, 3s, 0ga), Krcek (15:00 min, 5s, 3ga)