USJ Stuns Men’s Lacrosse in GNAC Quarterfinal

NASHUA, NH: Rivier men's lacrosse fell this afternoon as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference three seed to the six-seeded University of Saint Joseph's Blue Jays in the GNAC Quarterfinals.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 4/29/23

- Score: USJ 8, Rivier 6

- Records: USJ (10-8), Rivier (12-4)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-  The Blue Jays scored the only goal in the first quarter. Christian Decker was credited with the man-up goal. USJ would go up by two at the start of the second quarter on a Cam Fonseca goal. The Raiders would break onto the scoreboard at 6:15 in the second after Coby Mercier (Boscawen, NH) found the back of the net Decker would put the Blue Jays back up by two on another score. Chris Heitmiller (Nashua, NH) brought it back to just one with 3:50 left in the half. USJ would close out the half with an impressive goal. After a Raider turnover, Jay Kajander would scoop up the ball with one second left and just turn and throw the ball to just clear it out of the zone from behind the net, and it found its way into the Raiders net.

- The Blue Jays would extend the lead to three at the start of the third quarter on a third Decker goal. Now, down 5-2, the Raiders would finally show some life, while going on a three-goal run. Michael Ference (Salem, NH) started it off with 6:26 left. Heitmiller would follow him with his second of the contest. Mercier would finish the run with 4:51 left with his second goal, tying the game up five all.

- Decker's fourth goal would see the Blue Jays go back on top 6-5. At 10:44, Evan Baden would put USJ back up by two. Heitmiller would complete the hat trick with 5:03 left in the game to cut the deficit to just one at 7-6. With a last-ditch effort to get the ball back, the Raiders doubled up on the ball carrier with the goalie playing out of the net. Decker would then scoop up a loose ball and run it down the left side of the net, scoring his fifth goal with just 37 seconds left, sealing the game for the lower-seeded team to advance to the semifinal round of the GNAC tournament.

- Sawyer Gagnon (Gorham, ME) would get the loss (11-4) after saving 13 shots on net. Trey McCann had an impressive day in net, racking up 15 saved while allowing just six goals.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Shots: Rivier 48, USJ 35

-  Ground Balls: USJ 33, Rivier 29

-  Turnovers: USJ 20, Rivier 17

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