Redmen shear sheep as mentor Murdoch coaches in 100th game

MONTREAL - Ryan Besse, a freshman from Aurora, Ont., scored four goals and senior Nick Moreau of Trumball, Conn., added a hat-trick as McGill sheared the Wakefield Black Sheep 16-6 in men's university preseason lacrosse at Westmount Park, Que.

The Redmen jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one quarter, led 10-3 at halftime and 13-5 after three quarters.

"I'm quite pleased with the result," said head coach Tim Murdoch, who was coaching in his 100th career contest for McGill and saw his record improve to 56-44 overall since he took over the reigns as the volunteer head coach in 2003. "Our defence put in a stingy effort and we somehow managed to have all players on our roster see some action in a good team effort. A dozen of our players managed to get on the scoresheet in a winning cause."

Besse also had an assist for a five-point night and tied for the team points lead with captain Luke LaCava, a senior from Weston, Conn., who notched a pair and added three assists.

Rounding out the scoring for McGill were freshmen Alex Kruse of Oakville, Ont., and Jishan Sharples of Vancouver, B.C., with two goals apiece.

Veteran Guy Fox of Glen Rock, N.J., started in goal and registered the win, allowing three goals before giving way to understudy Simon Hudson, a 5-foot-11 rookie from Seattle, Wash., at halftime.

After only one preseason affair, the Redmen will now open defence of their CUFLA East title when they visit Queen's Sept. 12 in Kingston, Ont.

SCORING SUMMARY:

McGill 16, Wakefield Black Sheep 6

(Non-conference game on Sept. 5, 2009 at Westmount Park, Westmount, Que)

Weather: Sunny, 23C

SCORING BY PERIOD:

McGill: 5-5-3-3: 16

Black Sheep: 0-3-2-1: 6

McGILL SCORING:

Ryan Besse: 4 goals, 1 assist

Luke LaCava: 2 goals, 3 assists

Nick Moreau 3 goals, 1 assist

Matt Jankowski: 4 assists

Alex Kruse: 2 goals

Jishan Sharples: 2 goals

Andrew Edell: 2 assists

Greg Henry: 1 goal

Jake Safarik: 1 goal

Chris Wong: 1 goal

Mike Ting: 1 assist

Jake Winn: 1 assist

BLACK SHEEP SCORING:

T. Bergin: 2 goals

D. Taylor: 2 goals

S. McFarlane: 1 goal, 1 assist

S. Beketa: 1 goal

R. Wasson: 1 assist

GOALTENDERS:

McGill:

Guy Fox (start, W, 40:00; 3GA);

Simon Hudson (40:00; 3GA)

Black Sheep:

(not available)

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

Communications Officer

Athletics & Recreation

McGill University

514-398-7012 (Tel.)