Box
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Junior
Jeremy Jacob had six points on four goals and two assists and sophomore
Jon Roth added three goals and one assist Saturday as Nazareth opened its 2020 men's lacrosse season in successful fashion with a 14-10 non-conference victory over Springfield at Nazareth's Lacrosse Players Association Turf Field.
Nazareth outscored the Pride 6-2 in the second half, including 4-1 in the fourth quarter to break open a close game to gain the victory. Springfield had won the previous three meetings with the Golden Flyers, including a 19-7 romp last year in Springfield.
Seniors
Drew McNerney and
Colin McElligott each had two goals for the Golden Flyers.
Andre White,
Tate Martinez and
Jon Lippert also had goals.
Nazareth scored the first two goals of the game as Jacob and Roth each converted. Springfield answered with three straight goals, but Martinez scored unassisted to tie the score at 3-3 after one quarter. Each team scored five times in the second quarter with neither team leading by more than a goal. Five different players scored for Nazareth with McNerney scoring with 42 seconds left in the half to give the Golden Flyers an 8-7 lead. Springfield's Zac Schuette, however, netted his fifth goal of the half with just 20 seconds left to tie the game again at 8-8.
Jacob's third goal of the game early in the third quarter off a pass from Roth put Nazareth back on top, then McNerney scored off a pass from Jacob to provide Nazareth with its first two-goal lead since early in the first quarter. Schuette scored gain late in the third -- his sixth goal of the game -- to make it 10-9 heading into the fourth.
Nazareth won the battle in the fourth quarter, thanks to a 10-4 edge in ground balls. Roth's third goal of the game, off Jacob's second assist, enabled the Golden Flyers to regain their two-goal lead. McElligott's second goal of the game came about four minutes later off a pass from White as Nazareth began to pull away.
Springfield's Tommy Nash interrupted the scoring run, but White and Jacob scored just 46 seconds apart to boost the lead to 14-10.
Eric Almquist played all 60 minutes in goal for Nazareth and had 13 saves with seven coming in the second half. Senior
Tim Vinton got the better of the face-off battle by winning 16 of 27 draws.
Tristan Gosselin led Nazareth with seven ground balls.
Nazareth is home again Wednesday for another non-conference game against RIT at 3 p.m.