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DALLAS — Cory Metz scored the only goal of the first quarter Tuesday night.
The junior attacker spent the rest of the night making sure Dallas picked up its scoring production.
Metz scored a game-high four goals and assisted on five more to lead the Mountaineers to a 13-3 boys lacrosse victory over visiting Lake-Lehman in the Wyoming Valley Conference opener for both teams.
“He just has great vision,” Dallas coach Drew Abatangelo said, “and he’s not afraid to go to the cage.”
Lake-Lehman controlled possession for the first seven minutes, but was unable to convert. The Black Knights were still within, 4-2, past the midway point of the third quarter before Dallas broke the game open late.
“In the first quarter, we had at least 75 percent of the possession,” Lake-Lehman coach Brandon Kelley said. “I don’t really know what happened after that.
“We kind of started falling apart after they got that first goal on us. I think we started getting tired. We don’t have the numbers that another team would have,” he said.
Connor Motley assisted on the first two Dallas goals. He controlled a shot behind the cage and set up Metz in front of the goal with 1:31 left in the first.
Omar Nijmeh’s long runs up the middle helped produce goals by Dallas 55 seconds apart early in the second quarter for a 3-0 lead.
Nijmeh stole the ball and sprinted up field to set up Motley to the left of the goal. Motley sent the ball across the front of the cage for an easy goal for Brendah Baloh.
Nijmeh, who finished with three goals and three assists, did all the work on the next goal, resetting just inside midfield, then working his way in to score from 12 yards out.
Brian Devine scored for Lake-Lehman to cut the halftime deficit to 3-1.
Nijmeh’s goal to open the second half was answered by Lake-Lehman’s Luke Yaple.
Dallas then ran away, scoring nine of the game’s final 10 goals.
“We realized we had to go after the groundball and not just sit on it,” Abatangelo said. “We finally did. We hustled to the groundball.”
Metz had three goals and two assists in the six-goal fourth quarter for the Mountaineers.
Corey McAndrew made 11 saves in the win and held the Black Knights scoreless for the first 20 minutes and again for the fourth quarter.
Crestwood 17, Mifflinburg 7
Andrew Bobynskyj finished with four goals and three assists for the Comets in a non-conference wins.
Jay Popson scored three goals and added two helpers. Zach Anderson and Justin McCloskey had two goals apiece.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Scranton Prep 17, Tunkhannock 5
In a game played Monday, Makayla Franko scored three goals to lead the Tigers.
Jenna Hunter had seven goals for the Classics while Cara Kopicki added six.
Dallas 13, Lake-Lehman 3
Lake-Lehman 0 1 2 0 – 3
Dallas 1 2 4 6 – 13
Scoring– LL, Brian Devine (goal), Luke Yaple (goal), Charlie Kuschke (goal), Jimmy Loefflad (assist). DAL, Cory Metz (4 goals, 5 assists), Omar Nijmeh (3 goals, 3 assists), Brendan Baloh (2 goals), Jesse Goode (2 goals), Connor Motley (goal, 3 assists), Matt Ross (goal).
Shots – LL 21, DAL 34. Saves — LL 10 (Jake Yaple 9, Paul Ciaccia 1), DAL 11 (Corey McAndrew).