WNE Use Balanced Attack in CCC Win Over Gordon

SPRINGFIELD, MA (April 15, 2023) – The Western New England Men's Lacrosse team had their senior day today, as they hosted the Gordon College Fighting Scots. 14 different Golden Bears would record a point on the day, as they would defeat Gordon 24-4. 

Records:

• Western New England: 7-7 (5-0)
• Gordon College: 3-9 (0-5)

How it Happened:

Neither team would score until just over four minutes into the first quarter, as Western New England goalkeeper, Carter Randall, would make two saves and Gordon goalkeeper, Colin Liscomb, would make a save in net. Following Liscomb's save, Gordon would net the first goal of the game, as Jackson Wright would find Ryan Arthur, putting Gordon up one. Following a Chris Catuosco faceoff win, Liscomb would make a save on Mike Bannon, before Brian Madden would score, knotting the game up at one a piece. Both goalies would continue to keep the game tied at one, as Randall would make a pair of saves, and Liscomb would make another save. With 6:10 left in the first, Gordon would break the tie, as Joel Bean would assist Ryan Stephen Long, putting Gordon back up one. Each goalie would make a pair of saves over the next four minutes, before Gregory Perry would cause a turnover on a Gordon clear, resulting in Dylan Hanley finding Tim Kolb for the tying goal. Bannon would cause a turnover on a Gordon clear a minute later, resulting in Hanley assisting him, to put WNE up 3-2, with 53 seconds left in the first quarter. Bannon would add another point with three seconds left in the quarter, taking advantage of an extra man opportunity, finding James Wrynn for a goal, putting the Golden Bears 4-2 heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter was all WNE, as they would add eight consecutive goals onto their three in a row that closed out the first quarter. After Hanley caused a turnover, WNE would open the scoring in the second quarter with 11:35 remaining, as Thomas Labbe would assist Jacob Roy on a goal. 15 seconds later, after a Catuosco faceoff win, Bannon would find Tim Kolb for another Golden Bear goal. Western New England's seventh goal would be a result of an own goal against Gordon College, putting the Golden Bears up 7-2. A minute later, Labbe would add another point, scoring a goal from Ben Kolb. Liscomb would try to prevent WNE from tallying another goal, making a save, before Zachary Mein would find the back of the net, shortly after. Two minutes later, Hanley would capitalize on a man-up opportunity, putting WNE up 10-2. Three minutes following Hanley's goal, Roy would tally another point, netting his second goal of the contest. As the rain started to pour down, Tim Kolb would cause a turnover after the ensuing faceoff, resulting in Madden finding Hanley to put WNE up 10, with 3:25 left in the first half. The game would then be delayed for two hours as the teams waited out the storm, before returning to play. When returning to play, Gordon would score the lone goal in the rest of the half, as Ryan Stephen Long scored with 12 seconds in the quarter, sending the score to 12-3 at halftime.

After a brief halftime, WNE picked up right where they left off before the storm came, scoring eight goals in the third quarter. Bannon would open the scoring in the second half, netting a goal 90 seconds in. Liscomb would try to stop WNE's momentum by making two saves, but Tim Kolb would net a goal two minutes after Bannon's. Each goalie would make a save, before Mein would cause a turnover, resulting in Bannon finding Hanley for WNE's third in the quarter. Bannon and Hanley would each add another point a minute later, as this time, Hanley would find Bannon for the goal. Two and a half minutes later, Andrew Huta would cause a Fighting Scots turnover, resulting in Wrynn netting a goal. Sean Farland would win the ensuing faceoff and collect the ground ball, leading to Mein adding another Golden Bear goal, shortly after. With three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Ben Kolb found Jacob Roy for goal. As the quarter was coming to an end, Griffin LaRochelle would pick up his first point of the season, finding Nicholas Campagnone for the goal, putting WNE up 20-3 heading into the fourth quarter, after keeping the Fighting Scots scoreless over the third quarter.

To start off the final 15 minutes of play, Jonathon Salsbury would hop in net for WNE, and make a save a minute into the quarter. Two minutes later, Kevin Morina would net his first collegiate goal, with Wrynn getting the assist. Salsbury would make another save in net shortly after, before Joseph Contino would cause a turnover, and then get the assist on Wrynn's goal. Patrick Williams had entered the game as goalie at the start of the fourth, and had made two saves, and Joseph Clement would make a save on the only shot he would face on the day, for the Golden Bears, before Griffin LaRochelle would tally another point, this time scoring a goal. Quinn Mulcahey's caused turnover would result in a Joseph Bussinelli unassisted goal, with 3:32 left. WNE would make another goalie change, with Jarrett Ruggiero hoping in net for the remainder of the contest. Ryan Stephen Long would score the last goal of the game, coming with 2:28 left in the game. Neither team would score the remainder of the game, as Ruggiero would make his first career save with 13 seconds remaining, to keep the score 24-4. 

Inside The Crease:

• WNE improved to 5-0 in CCC play and 7-7 overall on the season.
• Bannon and Hanley led on offense, as they each tallied six points (both three goals and three assists).
• WNE went 20-32 on faceoffs, with Farland and Catuosco winning eight a piece.
• The Golden Bears forced 18 turnovers on the day.
• WNE goalkeepers made 14 saves on the day, led by 10 from Randall.
• Gordon was led by Ryan Stephen Long on attack, with three points (three goals).

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will travel to Salve Regina University on Tuesday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m.
• Gordon College will travel up to the University of New England Tuesday, April 18, at 4:00 p.m.