Springfield, Mass. - March 10, 2018 - Playing in its first home game of the season, the Springfield College men's lacrosse team shut down Union College, 6-2, on Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field.

The win evens Springfield's record at 2-2 this year, while the Dutchmen lost for the first time in 2018 to fall to 3-1.

It was a great bounce-back victory for Springfield after it had suffered losses in its last two outings.  The Pride's defense was especially impressive, allowing just two goals after surrendering 23 to top-ranked RIT on Wednesday evening.  Jake Reynolds (Scituate, Mass.) made 11 stops in goal as Springfield was outshot 42-35 in the game, including 24-16 in the first half.  The Pride limited Union to an 0-for-4 day on extra-man opportunities.

Jack Vail (Franklin, Mass.) was dynamic on the offensive side of the ball for Springfield, accounting for two goals and two assists. Defensively, Chris Cunnington (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) was credited with five ground balls and three caused turnovers. 

Springfield opened the game's scoring just 1:57 in the contest when Matt Allen (Chevy Chase, Md.) found Tom Hurley (Goffstown, N.H.) for the marker, only to have Union answer back at the 5:56 mark on an unassisted strike by Jordan Cooper.  The Pride would regain a 2-1 edge when Vail buried an unassisted goal with just nine ticks remaining in the opening quarter of play.

Union would net the only goal of the second quarter when Kerry Lyne finished a feed from John Edmonds with 2:01 on the clock as the teams went into halftime even at 2-2.

The hosts seized the early momentum in the third quarter, scoring three goals in a 2:45 span to open up a 5-2 cushion.  Vail got the run started with his second of the game at 11:28 off an assist from Anthony Sullivan (Westfield, Mass.), before Lucas Habich (Little Silver, N.J.) stung a man-up goal off a look from Vail with 8:45 on the clock.  Joseph Cameron (Stoneham, Mass.) won the ensuing draw and pumped home the Pride's fifth goal of the game just five seconds later to give the hosts a three-goal advantage.

Springfield added to its lead with 6:23 remaining in regulation after Vail connected with Tommy Nash (Massapequa, N.Y.) for the game's final goal.

Springfield will next make the trip to Virginia Beach as part of their Spring Break and will face 7th-ranked Cortland on Thursday, March 15 at 6:30 pm.