Bantams Upend Lasers in Midweek Clash

NEWTON, MA—Trinity College held the Lasell College men’s lacrosse team scoreless for over 27 minutes en route to their 11-6 victory over the Lasers Wednesday afternoon on Grellier Field.  The Bantams, ranked 8th in the most recent NEILA Coaches Poll, improve their overall record to 6-2, while the Lasers fall to 1-6 after the setback.

Senior Harper Cullen (Rehoboth Beach, DE) and first year Jeff Hebert (Cornwall, Ontario) each recorded a hat trick for the visitors, with Hebert’s second goal of the day marking the game-winner.  Goalkeeper Peter Johnson (Riverside, CT) was credited with the win, making three saves in thirty minutes.  Dominic Piselli (Rockville Centre, NY) relieved Johnson in the final two periods, also turning away three Laser shots.

First year midfielder TJ Cholnoky (Greenwich, CT) went 5-for-7 at the face-off x, and junior midfielder Chris Hartzell (Hingham, MA) tallied three points, all on assists.

For Lasell, Chris Bulkley (Groton, CT) scored a game-high four points, registering one goal and handing out three assists.  Jon Elia (East Lyme, CT) added two points, scoring one goal and adding an assist.

Junior goalkeeper Eric Walsh (Weymouth, MA) was charged with the loss in the Lasers’ cage.  Walsh made 11 stops and picked up three ground balls in the defeat.

Trinity went ahead 4-0 through the first 25 minutes of play.  The Bantams first struck at the eight minute mark of the opening period when Alex Berltles (Palm Beach, FL) skipped a pass to Luis Fernandes (Palm Beach, FL) who launched a shot from five yards out on the left wing.

Twenty three seconds into the second frame, Steve Manning (Tyngsboro, MA) picked up a ground ball off a miscued pass and dodged a Lasers defender to score.  Four minutes later, Andrew Williamson (Sudbury, MA) received a pass from Kevin Looby (Kansas City, MO) and bounced a shot into the bottom right corner of the Lasell’s net.

With 4:49 on the clock, Nick Shaheen  (Williamsburg, MA) drilled a shot which resulted in a great save by Walsh, however, an errant play in the ensuing possession led to the Lasers being charged with an unfortunate own goal.

Lasell cued two goals in the final two minutes and 37 seconds, making it a 4-2 game at the half.   Bulkey scored first, picking up a stray ground ball and rolling through Trinity defense, diving into the Lasers’ first goal, at 2:37.  Andy Puoplo (Duxbury, MA) put in a second shot with 23 second left in the period, driving in from behind the Bantams goal for a quick attack.

The teams traded goals in the third quarter, beginning at 12:15 when Cullen rifled a side arm shot from the right wing.  Lasell responded with a man-up goal from Sean Speciale (Hillsborough, NJ) at 11:56, but the Bantams regained the three goal lead moments later when Hebert lodged his first tally. Patrick Bresnahan (Manchester, NH) produced on another extra-man opportunity as 9:29, however, Hebert countered with the game winner three minutes later. Elia delivered the final goal of the period, making a cut through the middle and collecting a pass from Bulkley on the left side.  The third quartered ended with the Lasers in arrears by just two goals, 7-5.

Trinity would go on a four-goal run in first eight minutes of the final period to put away the game.  Lasell’s Brian Yepez (Hillsborough, NJ) made the final mark of the game, breaking through a lane on the left side to take a lob pass from Elia behind the net,  at 7:08. Each team would take just one more chance at their opponents net through the remaining minutes of play.

Trinity outshot Lasell 34-17 and won the ground ball battle, 42-25 .  Each teams captured 10-of-20 face-off possessions.

The Lasers begin Pilgrim League play on Saturday, April 3rd at home.  Lasell will face-off against Babson College (4-4) at 1:00 p.m. on Grellier Field.