Men's Lacrosse Drops Home Opener To Nichols, 13-5

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team could not keep the Bison of Nichols College (NC) at bay and fell, 13-5, in its non-conference home opener Wednesday afternoon on the USJ Lacrosse Field.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Nichols 13, Saint Joseph 5
Records: NC (1-3), USJ (1-1)
Location: USJ Lacrosse Field | West Hartford, Conn.

COACH QUOTE [Andrew Fink]
"Nichols is exactly the type of team we want to start playing. They are a next-level talent, and they executed well, it's who they are. As we continue to grow, these are the teams that will get us ready for conference play. We always want to win, but we will always come back stronger playing up, and I think Nichols will make us better before GNAC hits. We have to get a little bit older, a little more mature, and increase our lacrosse IQ…that team has that..we will get there, but that is why we wanted to play them."

Senior attackman Cian Keohane (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) was the high scorer on the day with five goals for Nichols. A pair of Bison added two each, while the Blue Jays were led by junior midfielder Noah Mocksfield (Colchester, Conn.), who scored a trio of goals off the bench. Sophomore attackman Ryan Paltauf (Southbury, Conn.) added a goal and an assist.

Nichols wasted no time getting the ball in the net scoring two goals in the first five minutes and change. USJ called timeout, settled in, and scored back-to-back goals themselves to tie it at two. The first four goals were all unassisted. The Bison rattled off the final three goals of the second period to take a 5-2 halftime lead.

That momentum carried into the second half as Nichols scored the first three of the third period to make it six unanswered. It wound up being a lead they would never relinquish as the Blue Jays chipped away but couldn't get close enough to take control of the contest against a very disciplined Bison squad.

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

NC – Freshman goalie Brady Morgan (Framingham, Mass.) picked up his first win of the season (1-1), allowing two goals and making eight saves in 30 minutes of action. Sophomore stopper Billy Heller (Somers, Conn.) allowed three goals in the second half with three saves.

USJ – Junior goalkeeper and captain Trey McCann (Simsbury, Conn.) took the loss (1-1) with five saves and 13 goals allowed in a full 60 minutes of action.

BATTLE AT THE 'X'

The Bison dominated the X Wednesday winning 19 of 22 faceoffs. Senior midfielder Scott Ehrenberg (Franklin, Mass.) won 18 of 21 himself, establishing the momentum that the visitors needed.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will hit the road for a non-conference game against the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University on Wednesday, March 9 at 5:00 p.m. Fans can head over to www.usjbluejays.com to catch the action live.

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