TOWSON, Md. – Sophomore faceoff specialist Jake Rainero set the team record for ground balls in a season and the Drew University men's lacrosse team used a balanced scoring effort to defeat Goucher College 13-11 on the road Saturday in a Landmark Conference tilt.
 
With the win, the team's third in a row, Drew (9-6, 5-3 LC) clinched its second consecutive berth in the Landmark Conference Championship tournament.
 
Rainero, who won 21 of his 25 faceoffs, scooped a season-high 15 ground balls to up his season total to 169, five more than the previous record initially set by Sean McGowan C'12 in 2012 and tied last season by GJ Nazziola C'24.
 
Senior Mike DeMayo posted three goals and one assist for the Rangers, who outshot the Gophers 51-36. Senior Luke Bruther and graduate student Tommy Larmore added two goals and one assist apiece while junior Riley Zeer contributed two goals as well.
 
Sophomore Joe Barnish made 13 saves for the Rangers.
 
Gianni Karam scored six goals for Goucher (8-8, 2-6 LC) while Jack Smith made 15 saves.
 
Tommy Larmore scored a man-up goal 18 seconds into the game, but it was Drew's final tally of the period as the two sides played to a 1-1 tie after one quarter of play.
 
The offenses kicked into high gear in the second quarter, when then Rangers edged the Gophers 5-4 to assume a 6-5 halftime lead. DeMayo scored twice in the stanza for Drew while freshman Nick Carabetta, Zeer, and junior Joey Larmore scored once each.
 
The back-and-forth play continued in the third quarter, when each side scored three goals to make it 9-8 heading into the final period. Junior Theo Krueger won the opening faceoff and dished it to Zeer, who scored just four seconds into the quarter. Bruther netted both of the team's other goals in the stanza.
 
The Rangers opened up some breathing room when they outscored the Gophers 4-1 to start the fourth quarter, making it a 13-9 game. Tommy Larmore, DeMayo, Rainero and freshman Joseph Carabetta scored one goal each during the stretch.
 
Goucher scored twice over the last six minutes to set the final score.
 
The Rangers close out the regular season next Saturday, when they visit Juniata College in another Landmark Conference affair.