Posted: Apr 21, 2015
Rivier Falls In GNAC Quarterfinals To Lasell
Rivier
(12-5)
8
Lasell
(9-6)
21
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rivier (12-5) | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
|
Lasell (9-6) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 21 |
(Newton, MA, Grellier Field) The Rivier University Men's Lacrosse team (12 – 5, 4 – 4 GNAC) fell 21 – 8 to the Lasell College Lasers (9 – 6, 5 – 3 GNAC) today in a GNAC Quarterfinal Men's Lacrosse match-up. The visiting Raiders kept the game close through the midway point of the 2ndquarter, before Lasell put together a five goal run ending the 2nd and starting the 3rd quarter to pull away. Rivier entered the tournament as the #5 seed and were lined up against the host Lasers in the #4 seed.
Rivier absorbed early set-backs, falling behind 3 – 0 and 5 – 2 during the 1st quarter. Casey Sullivan, Pat Egan, and Aaron LaPorte scored to push the home team up three goals to open the game. Cody Lynch (JR, Salem, NH) answered for the Raiders and cut into the lead, pulling them back to 3 – 1. Josh Gallant and Dylan Fernandes added strikes for Lasell, before Joe Kelland (FR, Watertown, MA) pulled one back for Rivier and the Raiders closed the 1st quarter down 5 – 2. Rivier opened the 2nd quarter with a pair of strikes from Liam Ryan (FR, Dorchester, MA) and pulled within one at 5 – 4. Lasell responded with three straight strikes form Gallant, Egan, and Jason Donovan to push their lead back to 8 – 4. Ryan notched a goal for the Raiders to put them back within striking distance at 8 – 5, but Lasell pushed back with three unanswered tallies to close out the 2nd quarter and take an 11 – 5 lead into the half.
In the 3rd quarter, goals from Kelland and Tyler Tambouris (FR, Hooksett, NH) were not enough, as the two Rivier strikes could not keep pace with the seven goals that Lasell generated to pull away 18 – 7 after three quarters. Rivier tacked on one more goal in the 4th on a Cody Lynch shot. Lasell scored three more for the 21 – 8 final score line.
Rivier was paced by Lynch with 2 goals, 4 shots, and 10 ground balls; Ryan with 3 goals, 10 shots, and 2 ground balls; Kelland with 2 goals, 3 shots, and 3 ground balls; Tambouris with 1 goal, 6 shots, and 2 ground balls; and Kyle Graham (JR, Londonderry, NH) with 1 assist and 9 shots. Clark Plummer (JR, Londonderry, NH) went the distance in goal for the Raiders making 16 saves.
The loss brings Rivier's GNAC playoffs to an end. Although the quarterfinal defeat was disappointing, the #5 seed that Rivier earned is the highest seed that the Men's Lacrosse program has earned in their brief history and another step forward for the program. The 12 wins on the season is also another step forward for the Raiders, marking the highest win total in the program mhistory.
