Middlebury, Vt. - April 8, 2015 - In its final non-conference game of the season, the Springfield College men's lacrosse team was defeated by nationally-ranked Middlebury College, 16-8, on Wednesday afternoon. 

With the loss, Springfield drops to 4-7 on the season, while the Panthers, who were ranked sixth in this week's USILA National Coaches Poll, improve to 10-2.

Kevin Sainte (Lexington, Mass.) led the Springfield offense with a goal and two assists, while Kevin Dean (Westhampton, N.Y.) netted two goals on the afternoon.  Matt Dalton (Somers, N.Y.) picked up game-high eight ground balls and Chris Santaniello (West Springfield, Mass.) made 11 saves in the loss.

Springfield was hampered by 23 turnovers, including 15 in the first half.

The hosts controlled the first 30 minutes of action and went into the locker room with a 7-0 advantage.  Dean netted the Pride's first goal of the game off a feed from Sainte just over a minute into the third and would Springfield would later get goals from Bryce Serriello (Cape Cod, Mass.) and Dylan Sheehan (Massapequa, N.Y.) in the frame.

Facing an 11-3 deficit heading into the final quarter, Springfield erupted for five goals, including four in the final 5:55 of regulation.  In addition to a man-up strike from Sainte, Dean added his second of the contest, while Duncan Preston (South Portland, Maine), Tom Hurley (Goffstown, N.H.) and Jesse Freedman (Granby, Conn.) each found the back of the cage.

The Pride will return to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday when it plays at Emerson beginning at 7:00 pm.