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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Host Springfield used an eight-goal flurry between the third and fourth quarters Saturday to break open a close game as the Pride defeated the Golden Flyers, 19-7, in the men's lacrosse season opener for both teams.
Springfield's Joe Hawley scored seven goals and added two assists with six of the goals coming in the second half as the Pride pulled away. Tommy Nash and Cole Pecora each scored three goals for the Pride. Senior
Anthony Basile scored a pair of extra-man goals for the Golden Flyers and senior
Jack Crowley had a goal and two assists.
The Golden Flyers were within striking distance, trailing 5-3 after freshman
Matthew Vanliew scored his first career goal with 11:24 left in the second quarter. The Pride, however, scored the next three goals, including one by Hawley with just :02 left in the half, to gain an 8-3 advantage at the half.
Springfield scored three of the first four goals to open the third quarter, but Nazareth appeared to be gaining momentum when Basile and
Drew McNerney scored goals just 24 seconds apart to close the gap to 11-6 late in the third quarter.
Hawley, however, scored again for he Pride before the third quarter ended to touch off an eight-goal outburst that ended with the Pride in control 19-6 with less than five minutes to play. Hawley scored five of his goals during the run. A late goal by Nazareth's
Kevin Hussey interrupted the run and closed out the scoring.
Despite the lopsided final score, statistics were relatively even with Springfield holding slight advantages in shots (42-41) and ground balls. The Pride won 16 of 29 faceoffs and their goalie, Cole Finerty, made 22 saves.
Vanliew, in his first college game, had four ground balls and three caused turnovers for Nazareth. Junior long-stick
Tristan Gosselin had five ground balls. Junior
Alex Winkler started in goal and made four saves. Freshman
Eric Almquist played the final 11 minutes and was credited with two saves.
Nazareth plays its next two games at home -- Saturday vs. St. Lawrence at 2 p.m. and March 5 against Brockport at 4.
