Springfield, Mass. - April 5, 2022 - The Springfield College men's lacrosse team closed out the game on a 6-1 scoring run to topple rival Western New England, 17-12, in a non-conference clash on Tuesday night at Stagg Field. 

The win lifts the Pride to 5-6 on the year, while the Golden Bears dropped to 6-5. 

 Riley Burgmyer (Somers, Conn.) turned in a career-best six points on three goals and three helpers, while Patrick Watson (Franklin, Mass.) contributed two goals and two assists.  Dean Pesce (Monroe, N.Y.) delivered 16 stops in goal and Connor Roberts (Somers, Conn.) was sensational in leading the defense as he registered 10 ground balls, five caused turnovers, and a goal.

Springfield owned a 38-32 edge in ground balls despite winning just 12-of-32 from the face-off "X". WNE held a 46-39 advantage in shots as Matt Greer went for four goals and two assists and Jack Seiter won 20-of-30 draws to go along with 11 ground balls. Carter Randall took the loss in goal as he totaled seven saves on the night. 

Springfield jumped out a 4-2 lead after 15 minutes of play, as Alek Turi's (Glastonbury, Conn.) incredible individual effort in the waning seconds allowed him to beat the horn for his second strike of the frame.  Mason Nocito (Mahopac, N.Y.) got free down the right alley on the opening possession of the second quarter to push the Pride's lead to 5-2 at 14:28, but the Golden Bears would answer with three goals in a 58-second span to knot the game up and force the Pride into a timeout. 

Out of the break, Watson shook his man as he stuck a shot inside the right post to kickstart a four-goal surge to push the Pride's lead to 9-5 with 1:58 to play in the half.  Four different goal scorers found the back of the cage, with Zac Schuette (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) and Burgmyer delivering unassisted strikes and Chris Santa Barbara (Hillsborough, N.J.) pumping in a man-up goal.  The visitors closed out the quarter with the ninth combined goal with 1:23 clock as Springfield took a 9-6 lead into the break.

WNE opened up the second half with three-straight goals, as Greer stepped into a man-up strike with 6:06 on the clock to even things up.  However, the Pride would regain the lead, as Roberts unleashed a goal in transition from 20 yards out at 3:16 and Joe Maimone (Allendale, N.J.) added a quick-stick strike thanks to a key ground ball from Burgmyer with 1:35 to play to give the Pride an 11-9 cushion entering the fourth.

The visitors responded with two goals in an 11-second span to tie things up with 12:20 remaining in regulation, only to have Watson connect with Burgmyer 11 seconds later to give the Pride the lead for good.  Springfield would string together five goals over the next nine minutes, including a pair from Nocito, and Watson added an empty-net goal inside the final minute to complete the 17-12 triumph. 

The Pride returns to NEWMAC play on Saturday when it travels to Emerson for a 1 pm showdown.

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