Bannon Nets 100th Career Goal in Setback to Babson College

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 12, 2023) – The Western New England men's lacrosse team dropped a non-conference decision against the visiting Beavers of Babson College by a final score of 17-11 from Golden Bear Stadium. Graduate Student Mike Bannon ripped home four goals, including his 100^th career goal in the loss. 

Records:

• Western New England: 1-3
• Babson College: 3-1

How it Happened:
Western New England would get going on the right foot when Zachary Mein netted the opening goal of the game to give Western New England the 1-0 lead. Mein would find opening in the middle of the crease to slam a shot into the back of the net to open the game for Western New England. From there, it would be all Babson leading into the second quarter as the Beavers would explode for six straight as Chi Chi Price and Matt Stucchi would record goals for Babson to pace the way. Babson would take a 6-1 lead after one quarter of play. The Beavers would outshoot WNE 17-7 in the quarter while Jonathon Salsbury made four saves. 

In the second, Babson would continue to pump goals into the back of the net scoring another six goals in the second quarter to take a huge 12-1 lead. Western New England would pick up their second goal of the game with just 32 seconds to play in the quarter when Dylan Hanley picked up an assist from Mike Bannon to stop the 12-goal scoring streak form the Beavers as the Golden Bears saw themselves fall behind 12-2 after the first 30 minutes of play. 

Babson would grab four goals in the third quarter while WNE would score twice with Zachary Mein and Thomas Labbe both picking up unassisted tallies while Ryan Kenney, Matt Stucchi and Will Spangenberg would provide the spark for the Babson Beavers in the quarter with Babson taking a 14-4 lead into the final quarter of play. WNE would turn the ball over 18 times through three quarter while Babson would take 40 shots through 45 minutes on the clock. 

The Golden Bears would see their best quarter of play come about in the fourth quarter when the Golden Bears' offense came alive, scoring seven goals. Mike Bannon would find the net for his 100^th career goal, scoring the fifth of the game for the Golden Bears. WNE would come quickly with goals in the fourth when Noah Rust, Mike Bannon, Jack Houlden, and Dylan Hanley all found the back of the net for the Golden Bears, though it would be too late, as Western New England would fall 17-11 to Babson on the afternoon. 

Inside the Sticks:

• Mike Bannon registered five points for WNE, a season best, picking up four goals and an assist to lead WNE just short of a comeback. 
• Dylan Hanley picked up two goals and two assists to continue to lead WNE in points this season. 
• Jonathon Salsbury made ten saves on the afternoon. 
• Babson was led by Chi Chi Price, who scored five times for the Beavers while taking 11 shots in the game. GK Will Parducci made 18 saves while allowing just 11 WNE goals. 
• After dominating much of the faceoff circle through the first three quarters, WNE went 9/9 in the fourth, led by Chris Catuosco, who went 11/17 on the afternoon.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will travel to Tampa, Florida for two Spring Break games, playing Bowdoin College (March 14) and Nazareth College (March 18) both at 6:30 PM.