Men's Lacrosse Leads Early, Falls Late To Rivier, 16-10

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team led early, but fell behind in the second half, dropping a 16-10 decision Saturday afternoon to the visiting Raiders of Rivier University (RIV), in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest held on the USJ Lacrosse Field. 

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Rivier 16, Saint Joseph 10
Records: RIV 10-3 (5-2 GNAC), USJ 5-8 (2-5 GNAC)
Location: USJ Lacrosse Field | West Hartford, Conn.

Freshman attackman Evan Zimnoch (Southington, Conn.) was the high-man for the hosts with four goals in total, which marked a new career-high for the rookie through his first 13 games in a USJ uniform. Senior attackman Matt Guerin (East Longmeadow, Mass.) found the back of the cage a trio of times and added an assist for a four-point game, while sophomore attackman Ryan Paltauf (Southbury, Conn.) chipped in with a goal and game-high four assists for five points to lead Saint Joseph. Paltauf now has 49 assists on the 2022 campaign and currently remains the leader in the GNAC in helpers. Five different Raiders had multi-goal games, including sophomore attackman Connor Eck (Franklin, Mass.), who equaled Zimnoch with a game-high four to lead the way offensively for Rivier.

Both teams came out with a high level of intensity on both sides of the field. The scoring was started primarily by Zimnoch, who netted three of his four goals in the first half. Rivier flipped the script on this one though in the second quarter, converting on three of its man-up opportunities. Rivier scored five-straight goals to end the opening half and and took an 8-6 advantage into the intermission.  

The game felt like a prize fight, even in the second half, as the Raiders kept the pressure on with their aggressive offensive attack. The visitors upped it to eight-straight goals going back to the second period to build an 11-6 lead before Paltauf ended the run with an unassisted toss over the Rivier keeper's right shoulder to cut the deficit to 11-7. Rivier commanded the second half and ultimately scored 12 of the final 15 goals in this one, eventually wearing the Blue Jays down as USJ's opportunities went wide. Saint Joseph outshot Rivier, 49-42, but the Raiders went 5-for-6 on man-up opportunities to just 2-for-6 for the Blue Jays.

COACH QUOTE [Andrew Fink]
"It was another great opportunity for us. Rivier is a team that can compete for the GNAC Championship. Once we can put together four full quarters, we will get there. The growing pains continue, but once again the effort is there. [Rivier] got our best that is for sure. We just have to continue to get better and keep battling."

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

RIV – Freshman Samuel Tibbetts (Gray, Maine) made his first career start for the Raiders and earned his first career win (1-0), allowing 10 goals on 18 shots in a full 60 minutes between the pipes.

USJ – Junior goalkeeper and captain Trey McCann (Simsbury, Conn.) took the loss and dipped to 4-7 on the 2022 season, allowing 16 goals and making 13 saves in a complete game in the cage for the Blue Jays.

BATTLE AT THE 'X'

Faceoffs were practically split down the middle, as USJ held a 15-14 advantage overall. Freshman faceoff Luke von Borstel (Massena, N.Y.) was the high-man for Saint Joseph with eight of nine successful faceoffs.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays are staying home for the second of their final three home GNAC matchups, this one against the Bulldogs of Dean College. That match will be held on Wednesday, April 20 at 4:00 p.m. on the USJ Lacrosse Field. USJ defeated Dean, 12-10, in its only ever meeting in program history back on March 5, 2021.

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