Balanced Effort Pushes #4 Men's Lacrosse to 15-7 Home Win over Saint Rose Saturday
Links: Box Score // Highlights
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – After the visitors pulled to within one goal midway through the first half, the fourth-ranked Merrimack College men's lacrosse team never let them get closer thanks to a fantastic effort in the second and third quarters, as the Warriors upended the Golden Knights, 15-7, to remain unbeaten at home in Saturday Northeast-10 Conference action.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 15, Saint Rose 7
Records: #4 Merrimack (8-1, 6-1 NE-10) | Saint Rose (3-9, 1-6 NE-10)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
Looking to win its third straight while pushing its record in North Andover to a perfect 6-0 on the year, Merrimack welcomed Saint Rose on Saturday in its penultimate home game of the season.
Three quick goals pushed the Warriors in front off the sticks of three different players, but Saint Rose would counter with two goals in a 40-second span to get to within one.
That was the closest the visitors would get, though, as sophomore John Bassett (Clifton Park, N.Y.) found the back of the net later in the first to close out the quarter and send the Warriors into the second frame with a 4-2 lead.
Senior captain Scott Corcoran (Haverhill, Mass.), known for his defensive prowess as one of the nation's top long stick midfielders, enjoyed a career day offensively and chipped in the first of what would be a career-high two goals just 29 seconds into the second quarter. Junior Max Allen (West Caldwell, N.J.) then found the back of the net for the second time on the afternoon midway through the frame before Saint Rose responded with 5:38 left in the half.
Leading by three, the Warriors got tallies from senior Ryan Poirier (Warwick, R.I.) and Bassett in the last five minutes of the period to take a five-goal lead into the break.
Merrimack would dominate the third quarter, outscoring the Golden Knights by a 4-0 margin with Allen, freshman Michael O'Connell (Sudbury, Mass.), Bassett and Corcoran all chipping in to push the home side's advantage to nine (12-3).
Three more markers over the first four minutes of the fourth quarter would run the Warriors' uninterrupted goal streak to nine from the 4:58 mark of the second quarter to the 11:00 mark of the fourth. Senior Andrew Walsh (Derry, N.H.), Poirier and freshman Seamus Ford (Walpole, Mass.) were responsible for those strike, while the defense held on from there on out for the final margin of victory.
Notes and Numbers
- Eight different players would find the back of the net for the Warriors on Saturday, with Allen leading the way with five points on a hat trick and two helpers
- Other multi-goal scorers included Bassett (3g, 1a), Poirier (2g, 2a), Corcoran (2g), and O'Connell (2g, 1a), while Prouty (1g, 2a) also had a multi-point afternoon
- In net, junior Sam Ventresca (Woburn, Mass.) finished with seven saves and only four goals allowed before giving way to classmate Mitch Green (Manchester, N.H.) for the final six minutes of regulation
- In addition to his offensive contribution, Corcoran led all Warriors with six ground balls and three caused turnovers, while sophomore Eric Coburn (Londonderry, N.H.) also caused two miscues
- EMO: Merrimack (1-7) // STR (2-4)
- SOG: Merrimack – 30 // STR – 14
- Ground Balls: Merrimack – 46 // STR – 29
- Clears: Merrimack (17-for-20) // STR(13-for-29)
Up Next
Merrimack will have another quick turnaround before continuing league play with a home tilt on Tuesday, April 12, when the Warriors host Franklin Pierce. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
