Nick Gamba and Jared Newall Each Score Four Goals as Men’s Lacrosse Tops Clark in Season Opener

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 22, 2020) – The Western New England University men's lacrosse team defeated Clark, 11-9, in their season opener on Saturday afternoon at Golden Bear Stadium.

Top Performers
Senior Nick Gamba (Oysterbay, N.Y.) and junior Jared Newall (Stratford, Conn.) each scored four goals for the Golden Bears.

Senior Chris Rasco (Huntington, N.Y.) scored four goals for the Cougars.
 

Game Review
Clark took the early lead after Rasco grabbed his first of the day. Newall responded for the Golden Bears to tie the game at 1-1. The Cougars took a 3-1 lead after goals from Rasco and senior Jack Mandracchia (Melrose, Mass.). Western New England scored three goals, two from Gamba and one from Newall, in the final six minutes of the first quarter to take a 4-3 lead. 

Senior Andrew Hollerbach tied the game for the Cougars just a minute into the second quarter. The Golden Bears scored four of the next six goals in the second quarter to take an 8-6 lead going into halftime. Junior Conor Tracy (Walpole, Mass.), Gamba, and junior Matt Greer (South Windsor, Conn.) scored for Western New England.

A goal from senior John Shahpazian (New Providence, N.J.) with under a minute left in the third quarter gave the Golden Bears a 9-7 lead going into the final quarter. The Cougars scored two quick goals in the fourth period to tie the game at 9-9. With under five minutes remaining, Newall scored two goals in a 0:30 stretch to Western New England ahead 11-9.

Notes
• Western New England held a 43-39 shot advantage.

Up Next
Western New England (1-0) travel to Keene State on Tuesday afternoon. Clark (0-2) will travel to Florida to play Misericordia University on March 2.