Men's Lacrosse: Raiders were just too much for the Bulldogs, 24-10

Story written and posted by Hayden Barbosa, Rivier University Assistant Sports Information Director

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Raiders continue their unbeaten streak after dropping the Dean College Bulldogs tonight at Raider Field, 24-10.  

Before tonights non-conference matchup, Dean College was 3-1 and Rivier University was 4-0.  Both teams have had some success thusfar.  While the Raiders are undefeated, Nichols gave them a challenge last month in a nail biting 8-7 win.  The Bulldogs were undefeated until they hit a wall, when they faced UMass Darmouth earlier this month losing 10-6.  However today was an opportunity for the Bulldogs to redeem themselves and for the Raiders it was an opportunity to keep up the momentum as they approach conference play.   

The scoring started with Bulldogs senior Anthony Trassaco (Cheshire, Conn.) just 2 minutes into the game off a dish from senior Brody Fredericks (Weare, N.H.).  Less than a minute later sophomore Dylan McSparren (Warwick, R.I.) equalized with an unassisted goal.  Subsequently, Senior Jake Genest (Salem, N.H.) scooped up a ground ball after the face off and the Raiders regained possession.  Less than a minute later the ball landed in freshman Nick Ackerman's (Durham, N.H.) possession who hooked senior Colby Larsen (Windham, N.H.) up with his first goal of the night. 

Dean retaliated with 3 unanswered goals. Two of which were from Fredricks and one from Trassaco.  Dean scored again in the first period, although it was senior AJ Gearin (Lunenberg, Mass) who dampened things a bit for the Bulldogs after burrying his 3rd goal of the season off an Eric Guinasso (Pelham, N.H.) dish.

Dean struck just one more time. However senior Chris Pennie (Wilmington, Mass) and Ackerman tallied two unassisted goals and senior Colby Larsen netted one after linking up with McSparren to close out the scoring for the period.  The first period ended 6-5 in favor of the hosts.  

Scoring slowed down in the 2nd period.  The 3rd and 4th picked right back up again, particularly in favor of the Raiders.

5 Raiders scored hat-tricks, Guinasso(4), Ackerman (4), Pennie (3), Larsen (4), Fullerton (5).  

After tonight senior Matt Cloutman (Peabody, Mass) is back on top of the conference leaderboard for goalkeepers.  The senior leads the GNAC in Save Percentage, 68.2 and Goals-Agains Average, 6.19. Sophomore Jake Destefano (Peabody, Mass) saw some action between the pipes as he relieved Cloutman of his duties with 5 minutes to go in the game.  Fortunately for the Raiders the Bulldogs were panting the last 5 minutes of the game and Destafano barely broke a sweat. 

Bulldogs Goalie, Alex Govoni (Lakeville, Mass) walked away with 10 saves while susbtitute Andrew McKenna (N. Palm Beach, Fla.) tallied 1 save on the night.

Dean College is slated to face Emerson College (0-7) in Boston this Saturday at 1:00PM.  Rivier University will travel to Becker College (0-2) on Saturday for a faceoff at noon.