Offensive Explosion gives Raiders first win of 2013

(Nashua, NH) Rivier dominates from the start of the game to earn first win of 2013 season defeating Lyndon State College 18-3 in a non-conference contest up on Raider Field.

The Raiders were in control the whole night in which they saw multi-goal nights from six players and were a perfect 8-8 on the power play. Through a mixture of rain and snow sophomore Mike Arricale (Billerica, MA) paced the Rivier offense with 6 points off of 4 goals and 2 assists. Freshman David Bray (West Suffield, CT) contributed the Raiders surging attack with 7 points including 5 goals, an assist, and 6 ground balls. Bray would also win more than 80% of his face-offs, a team high.

Rivier was first to strike in the contest with a goal by Bray with 6:45 remaining in the first quarter. An illegal body check by Lyndon State's Brad Collins (Richmond, VT) would allow the Raiders a 3 minute time span in which they would score three goals to take a 4-0 lead at the end of the first. Arricale, Bray, and freshman Kyle Graham (Londonderry, NH) would have the extra man goals.

In the second quarter Rivier would extend their lead off of another man up opportunity Graham less than a minute in. With 10:57 remaining in the half sophomore Ryan Woolaver (Tewksbury, MA) would score his first of two goals to give Rivier a commanding 6 goal lead. Lyndon State would score their first goal of the night on the man up opportunity by Timothy Patten (Springfield, NH). Junior Danny Hooper (Wakefield, RI) would score next for the Raiders with 8 minutes left in the half and assisted Bray's goal less than a minute and a half later. Brian Sawyer (Goffstown, NH) would notch Lyndon State's second goal at the 4:56 mark. Rivier closed the first half by scoring two more goals and held a 10-2 lead.

Rivier would add to their lead in the third after Bray hustled for one of his six groundballs and scored on the solo attempt 1:05 into the second half. He would score his final goal of the night on an assist by fellow rookie Rober Auer (Salem, NH). Auer would add 2 goals to his stats in the fourth quarter. Rivier closed the game on a 6-0 run in which nine Raiders would earn at least one point. Rivier earned their first win of the season with an 18-3 complete performance.

Rivier will return to action when they will face Rosemont College on Saturday March 3, 2013 in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. Lyndon State College will play next against Olivet Nazarene University on March 14.