Box Score Pittsford, N.Y. – February 18, 2023 - The Springfield College men's lacrosse team was upended in its season opener against Nazareth, 10-8, on Saturday afternoon.
The Pride had the edge in the majority of the statistical categories, including owning a 43-30 edge in shots and a 36-32 advantage in ground balls. Dean Pesce (Monroe, N.Y.) made nine saves in the setback, while both Riley Burgmyer (Somers, Conn.) and Matthew Webb (Northport, N.Y.) totaled two goals and an assist. Steven Betsch (Port Washington, N.Y.) scooped up 10 ground balls as he won 12-of-21 from the face-off "X".
Burgmyer opened up the scoring with an unassisted marker at 13:53 before the Pride doubled its lead as Aaron Murakami (South Burlington, Vt.) finished a Webb feed just 19 seconds later. Naz would answer for their first goal of the game just under a minute later, and after Webb stung an unassisted goal at 6:37, the Golden Flyers would respond with a strike 31 seconds later to make it a 3-2 game after 15 minutes of play.
The hosts would account for the only two goals of the second, both coming on man-up opportunities, en route to a 4-3 halftime edge. Springfield would open up the third quarter with a three-goal burst to gain a 6-4 edge. Webb netted the Pride's first man-up goal of the season at 10:20 before Gavin Carzello (Westfield, Mass.) and Burgmyer used unassisted efforts to give Springfield a two-goal lead.
However, over the next 2:50, the Golden Flyers would score four goals to take the lead for good. Kevin Tierney (Glastonbury, Conn.) would score the first of his two fourth-quarter goals at 8:05 to make it a one-score game, but Nazareth pumped two goals in the final six minutes en route to the victory.
Springfield will play in its home opener next Saturday when it hosts Stevens at 1 pm.
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