Stifling Defense lifts No. 6 Men's Lacrosse Past No. 3 Rivier, 8-6, In GNAC Quarterfinals

NASHUA, N.H. – The sixth-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team utilized stellar defense to secure an upset victory over third-seeded Rivier University (Rivier), 8-6, in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Quarterfinals Saturday afternoon on Joanne Merrill Field in Nashua, N.H. Sophomore midfield Christian Decker (Bristol, Conn.) tallied five goals to pace the offense, while senior goalkeeper Trey McCann (Simsbury, Conn.) recorded 15 saves in-between the pipes. With the win, the Blue Jays advance to the semifinals of the GNAC tournament for the first time in program history.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: #3 Rivier 6, #6 USJ 8
Records: Rivier 12-4, USJ 10-8
Location: Joanne Merrill Field | Nashua, N.H.

The Blue Jays and Raiders battled back and forth in the opening portion of the game, as both teams created numerous scoring chances. However, McCann was stellar in-between the pipes, producing multiple great saves to keep Rivier off the board. The USJ offense rewarded their netminder during a man-up opportunity, as junior attack Ryan Paltauf (Southbury, Conn.) found a cutting Decker who fired his shot into the net, establishing a 1-0 USJ lead at the 6:08 mark. Rivier looked to answer back, but McCann and the rest of the USJ defense continued to shutout the Raiders, as the Blue Jays held a 1-0 lead entering the second quarter.

USJ continued to play lights out defensively to start the second quarter, enabling the USJ offense to extend the lead. Freshman Cam Fonseca (Saunderstown, R.I.) worked his way towards the net, rifling his shot past the Rivier goaltender, increasing the lead to 2-0, with 12:20 left in the first half. However, the Raiders would continue to pepper shots on net, eventually getting one past McCann, cutting the gap to 2-1 with 6:15 on the clock. The Blue Jays were not deterred by the goal, as Decker netted his second of the game at the 5:02 mark, reestablishing a two-goal lead for the Blue Jays, 3-1. Rivier quickly fired back though, cutting the deficit back to one, 3-2, with 3:50 left in the half. Just when the half appeared to be over, sophomore defender Jay Kajander (Reading, Mass.) forced a turnover near the USJ goal, collecting the loose ball before launching a full field shot before the buzzer went off that incredibly found its way into the goal, sending the Blue Jays into the half with a 4-2 lead.

The Blue Jays carried the momentum into the second half, as Decker completed his hattrick at the 10:36 mark, utilizing a solo effort to increase the gap to 5-2. However, Rivier would not go away, rattling off three unanswered goals, tying the game at 5-5 with 4:51 left in the third. The score line would hold as the game reached the fourth quarter deadlocked at 5-5.

Decker would put an end to Rivier's momentum right at the start of the fourth, working his way from behind the net before firing his shot into the top of the net, establishing a 6-5 lead for USJ at the 14:16 mark. Senior Evan Baden (Burlington, Conn.) doubled the USJ advantage moments later, firing his shot past the Rivier netminder to increase the gap to two, 7-5, with 10:44 left to play. The Raiders tried to get back in the game with a man-up chance, but McCann came up big for USJ, denying the Raiders from cutting into the Blue Jays lead while USJ regained possession, calling a timeout at the 6:35 mark.

Rivier though would gain the momentum coming out of the break in action, forcing a turnover before tacking on a goal at the other end, closing the gap to one, 7-6, with 5:03 left to play. The Raiders continued to fire shots on the USJ goal, but the defense stood strong, not allowing the hosts to tie the game, as Rivier called a timeout with 2:04 left to play. The USJ defense continued to hold firm as Decker put the game to rest with a strike with 37 seconds remaining, securing the upset victory, 8-6, and sending USJ to the semifinals of the GNAC Tournament.

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

RIVIER – Sawyer Gagnon played nearly the entire game for Rivier, allowing seven goals while making 13 saves in 58:24 minutes of play. Samuel Tibbets played the remaining 1:36 minutes in goal for the Raiders, allowing one goal.

USJ – McCann played all 60 minutes in goal for USJ, tallying 15 saves on the afternoon.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays advance to the GNAC Semifinals for the first time in program history, taking on No. 2 Lasell University on Tuesday, May 2. First faceoff against the Lasers from Grellier Field in Newton, Mass., is yet to be determined.

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