BoxscoreMadison, NJ – Stockton University (1-0) outscored FDU-Florham (0-1) 6-1 in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and win the season opener 12-8. Overall, the Ospreys scored seven of the game's last eight goals to erase a 7-5 deficit.
Mike Caposella (Wayne/DePaul Catholic) paced Stockton with four goals and
Zack Aho (Shamong/Seneca) netted three tallies.
Caposella opened the scoring 2:07 into the game and
Vincent Manasia (Clark/Arthur L. Johnson) added a man-down goal in the first quarter but the Devils also scored twice for a 2-2 tie. Tallies by
Chris Kaczmarski (Somers Point/Mainland) and Aho just 1:13 apart gave Stockton a slim 4-3 edge before FDU-Florham struck with only 17 seconds left in the half for a 4-4 tie at the break.
The Devils opened up a 6-4 advantage with the first two goals of the second half and Caposella answered 58 seconds after the second one to bring the Ospreys within 6-5. FDU-Florham responded 1:06 later to make it 7-5. Manasia needed just 22 seconds to pot a man-up goal that trimmed the margin to one again at 7-6. The tally was the first of four straight for Stockton.
In the fourth quarter, Aho sandwiched two goals around one by Caposella as the Ospreys surged to a 9-7 lead. The Devils got one back to close within 9-8 but Stockton pulled away with three goals in the last 5:05 for the 12-8 win.
Caposella started the run with his fourth marker of the game. Freshman
Tommy Gallo (Clinton/North Hunterdon) followed with his first college goal and
James O'Donnell (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) capped the spurt with a man-up counter assisted by Gallo with 1:21 remaining.
In his third season at Stockton, goalkeeper
Pat Quinn (Shrewsbury/Red Bank Regional) made his first start in an Osprey uniform and earned the win with a career-high 14 saves.
Tony Pagano (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) won 10 of 14 faceoffs and Kaczmarski snagged a team-high six ground balls.
Stockton will play the second of three straight road games to start the season on Wednesday, March 2 at Haverford at 7 p.m.
