Malik Talbert Reaches 100 Career Goal Milestone on Senior Day

Malik Talbert alongside head coach Sam Miller, his brother, and assistant coach Zach Cook during his senior day recognition.
Chip Green, JB3 Sports

DELHI, N.Y. (April 20, 2019) – The battle for home field advantage in the upcoming men's lacrosse NAC/NECC Tournament was up for grabs Saturday between the NAC's top two, playoff-bound teams in SUNY Delhi and SUNY Canton. Though it would be the visiting Roos who won out in a 10-9 contest that lived up to its billing, the Broncos had plenty to celebrate after the game. Head coach Sam Miller and company not only recognized senior Malik Talbert as part of Senior Day to cap off Saturday's festivities, but had more reason to celebrate after Talbert used the occasion during the game to score his 100th career goal. He picked it up with his third and final goal of the contest in the second quarter, as he finished tied with a game-high five points.

Delhi, who completed its NAC season and stands at 10-5 overall and 5-1 in league play, wraps up the regular season Wednesday at Mount Saint Vincent at 5:00 p.m. The Broncos will compete as the NAC's second seed at the NAC/NECC Tournament, and will travel to face NECC top seed New England in the semifinals, set for Saturday, April 27. More information will be provided once formally announced.

A John Rohan goal got the scoring started to put the Broncos in front with 13:20 remaining in the first. After two consecutive Canton strikes, Talbert tied the contest with his first score for a 2-2 score with 6:09 left in the quarter, only for the Roos to close out the period with two straight to enter the second up, 4-2. Delhi would take control to open the second quarter with three goals. King White got the team one goal closer with a score with 14:09 before halftime, followed by Malik Talbert earning career goals 99 and 100, both on man-up opportunities. But Canton ended its silence with a half-closing goal by Josh Yelvington, a name Delhi would later become all too familiar with, to enter intermission tied at 5-5.

Yelvington continued what would be a five-goal day for him with two scores to begin the third, as well as teammate Noah Robinson tacking on another to give Canton its largest lead of the day at 8-5. Bronco Ross Cange countered with own singular effort, racking up the final two goals of the third to trim the Roos' lead to 8-7 at period's end. It wouldn't stay that way for long, as Brian Conti knotted the game up at eight-all on a man-up opportunity just 15 seconds into the fourth quarter. Following a series of penalties, the Roos and Broncos each exchanged man-down goals, starting with Canton's Andrew Garrett with 12:21 remaining, and faceoff man Nick Dower winning the midfield ball and charging down the field to tie the game back up just six seconds later. The game remained scoreless for nearly another nine minutes before Yelvington's fifth goal wound up being the deciding score with 3:39 to go. The Broncos looked to take advantage of several opportunities to tie the game back up, but ultimately could not get one more past Roos goalie Kody Kocsis, who finished with eight saves.

Talbert's three goals and two assists Saturday puts him at 136 career points on 100 goals and 36 assists. The senior from Valley Stream, NY ranks second in the NAC this season with 61 points and 46 goals. Ahead of him in both categories is Rohan, whose one goal and four assists boosted his conference-best totals to 69 points on 53 goals.

Freshman goalie Travis Anderson logged 11 saves on 21 shots faced to keep the Broncos in the game all afternoon. He ranks first in the conference with an 8.13 goals against average and 158 total saves, and second with a 56.4 save percentage. The guys up front forced Canton into 26 total turnovers, including two shot clock violations, while completing 22-of-26 clear attempts. The Broncos outshot the Roos, 42-31, and came through on 3-of-7 man-up chances, as well as one goal with a man down. Dower won 16-of-22 faceoffs, picking the ground ball up himself 11 times.


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