RINDGE, N.H. - A key 3-0 spurt midway through the fourth quarter put the Saint Michael's College men's lacrosse team in front for good in a 14-11 victory over Franklin Pierce University on Tuesday during a Northeast-10 Conference contest at Sodexo Field. The Purple Knights received a vote toward this week's United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) national poll.
RECORDS
- Saint Michael's (5-4, 2-4 NE10), Franklin Pierce (4-6, 1-5 NE10)
SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS
- Sophomore Cooper Wilson (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna), 18-for-29 faceoffs, 13 ground balls (career high)
- Sophomore Sebastian Simonson (Spruce Grove, Alberta/Spruce Grove Composite), 4 goals, 2 assists
- Sophomore Cristian Reyes (Norwood, Mass./Xaverian Brothers), 2 goals, 4 assists
- Senior Drew Collins (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna), 2 goals, 2 assists
- Sophomore Ethan Hughes (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull), 2 goals, 1 assist
- Senior Max Katavolos (Newburyport, Mass./Newburyport), 2 goals
- Junior Dylan Morgan (Ashland, Mass./Ashland), 1 goal, 1 assist
- Junior Nathan Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Kent School), 1 goal
- Junior Rocky Grillone (Brockton, Mass./Cardinal Spellman), 7 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers
- Sophomore Sean Regan (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland), 5 saves in 30 minutes
- Junior Spencer Scardino (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna), 6 saves in 30 minutes of relief, win
OPPONENT LEADERS
- Senior Caleb Ikkela, 3 goals, 2 assists
- Graduate student Joe Nutting, 3 goals
- Sophomore Mike Masterpolo, 13 saves
GAME FACTS
- The Purple Knights won at Franklin Pierce for the first time since April 13, 2013.
- Saint Michael's held a 34-32 edge in ground balls, the hosts had a 40-38 lead in shots, and both squads committed 17 turnovers.
- While also tying his career high in faceoff wins, Wilson became the fifth player in program history with 100 victories in a single season (106).
- Reyes set a career high with the six points.
- The Purple Knights were fourth in this week's New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) rankings.
THE ACTION
- After Nutting netted the game's opening goal at 12:32 of the first quarter, Saint Michael's responded with four tallies in a matter of 4:03, as Woods (8:35), Simonson (6:59), Hughes (6:32) and Collins (4:32) all scored.
- Ikkela's goal with 17 seconds to go sparked a tying 3-0 run that carried into the second frame.
- Katavolos and Reyes scored 39 seconds apart to give the visitors a 6-4 lead with 3:05 left.
- Franklin Pierce tied the game on four different occasions during the second half but never took the lead.
- After Ikkela drew the Ravens even at 8:13 of the fourth quarter, making it 10-10, Simonson potted a goal 52 seconds later that gave Saint Michael's the final lead. Katavolos scored at 6:45, and Simonson capped the quick 3-0 spurt at 5:30, as the Purple Knights scored three times in 1:51 to take control.
NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME
- Saturday vs. No. 10 Saint Anselm College, 7 p.m.
- The Hawks' national ranking is according to this week's USILA national poll.
- Saint Anselm qualified for the 2022 NCAA Tournament.