Raiders Rally to Outlast Men's Lacrosse, 11-10

THE BASICS 

Score:             
Rivier University, 11; Emmanuel College, 10
Records:         
Emmanuel College Saints (1-3, 1-2 GNAC)
Rivier  University Raiders (2-1, 2-1 GNAC)
Location:         
Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field
Date:               
Saturday, April 3, 2021

THE LEAD:  A fourth quarter rally lifted Rivier University over host Emmanuel College, 11-10, Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's lacrosse action at Roberto Clemente Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

• The Saints carried a 5-7 lead into the final quarter after a strong effort in the first three frames and traded goals with the Raiders to an 8-6 score capped by a goal by sophomore Ryan Castle (Boxford, Mass.) with 12:19 to play.
• Over the next nine minutes, Rivier put together a 5-0 scoring spree to shift momentum and take an 11-8 lead following a goal by Connor Eck (Franklin, Mass.) with 2:58 remaining in regulation. Eck netted four of the five goals during the flurry while Coby Mericer (Boscawen, N.H.) was the other Raider goal scorer in the run.
• Emmanuel gave it all they could down the stretch as junior Colin Dickinson (Barre, Vt.) cut the deficit to 11-9 with 2:20 to play before first year Robert Favuzza (Saugus, Mass.) made it a one-goal game with 1:47 left.
• The Saints had a chance to even the score with a man-up opportunity with 40 seconds to play but their only shot attempt during the possession sailed wide and the Raiders were able to kill the clock for the win.
• In the opening quarter, Rivier opened the scoring with a goal by Michael Ference (Salem, N.H.) just 1:03 into the action before sophomore Drew Chant (Warwick, R.I.) evened the game at 1-1 at the 7:36 marker.
• Castle gave Emmanuel its first lead of the day 25 seconds into the second quarter at 2-1 but back-to-back late goals by Ference and Dylan McSparren (Warwick, R.I.) gave the visitors a 3-2 lead at the break.
• EC played its strongest quarter of the game in the third, outscoring the Raiders by a 5-2 margin as Castle and Dickinson each scored twice while first-year Aiden Sullivan (Burlington, Conn.) added a man-up score.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Emmanuel owned a 46-34 advantage in shots on the day while the Raiders won 15-of-22 faceoffs.
• Eck and Ference each finished the afternoon with four goals apiece for Rivier while Ry. Castle netted four for the Saints.
• Rivier reserve goalie Sawyer Gagnon (Gorham, Maine) picked up the win in relief, making three save in 10:44 minutes of action to move to 1-0 on the year while starter Ben Fitzpatrick (Stoneham, Mass.) made nine saves.
• EC goalkeeper Randy Castle (Boxford, Mass.) made 10 saves and falls to 1-3 on the year.
• Rivier improves to 3-6 all-time vs. Emmanuel with three straight wins including back-to-back one-goal victories.

UP NEXT

• The Saints are idle until Sunday, April 11 when they play Dean College in Franklin, Mass. at 3:00 PM in more GNAC action.
• Rivier returns to the field on Wednesday, April 7 playing host to Saint Joseph's (ME) at 7:00 PM in Nashua, N.H.