Newton, MA- After trailing 7-1 through three quarters to Keene State, the Lasell College men's lacrosse team sparked a 5-2 run in the final period but it was not enough to fend off the Owls who proved victorious, 9-6, at the final buzzer.
It was an uncommonly low scoring first stanza which saw a sole tally from Keene's Matt Schairer (Wrentham, MA), fed by Ian Hart (Richmond, NH) after nearly 10 minutes of scoreless action. The second quarter was also fairly subdued on the scoreboard with just three goals scored, including a pair of marks by Griffin Meehan (Simsbury, CT) for Keene, and Lasell's first score of the day, netted by Dylan Gray (Bayport, NY). The teams broke for halftime with the visitors leading 4-1.
Keene kicked up the assault in the third quarter, holding the Lasers without another goal while adding four of their own. Owl goalie Jason Lesser (Brewster, NY) made four stops in the period to successfully keep the Lasers from advancing. Ultimately, Taylor Jette (Simsbury, CT) would score the game winner with 1:02 left in the third period, taking an assist from Hart.
Jon Elia (East Lyme, CT) kick started the Lasers comeback run in the final period just thirty seconds into the frame, scoring off a quick pass from Chris Bulkley (Groton, CT). Nick Sampson (Londonderry, NH) followed with a pair of marks between the 11th and 13th minute, closing the gap to 7-4. Tom Montano (Old Lyme, CT) doubled the Owls lead 15 seconds after Sampson's second goal and Schairer netted an extra-man goal for Keene with just 2:30 on the clock.
Lasell finished the game with successive goals in an 11 second stretch. Bulkley scored man-down for Lasell at 1:29 and Sampson fired in another quick goal for the Lasers off the ensuing face-off, taking the hand off from Bulkley.
Lasell won 13-of-19 total face-off's in the game, led by Adam Foss (Billerica, MA) who went 13-for-18 at the X. Lasell also carried the weight in shots (43-39) and ground balls (26-19). Both teams capitalized on one extra-man opportunity in the game.
Lesser finished the contest with 23 saves, turning aside nearly 80% of the Lasers' total chances on the cage. Lasell goalkeeper Eric Walsh (Weymouth, MA) collected 13 saves in the defeat.
Schairer and Jette led the Owls offense with three each, Schairer all on goals and Jette on two assists and a goal. Meehan and Hart each came away with two points in the win.
Bulkley and Sampson recorded three points each in a losing effort for Lasell. Elia, Gray, Dan Clark (Scarborough, ME), and Chris Livelli (Hillsborough, NJ) also lodged one point each in the loss.
After a six-game home stretch, the Lasers will hit the road for their next tussle which is slated for Wednesday, March 30th at Trinity, with a 4:00 p.m. start time.