Men's Lacrosse Comes Up Short to Plymouth State, 6-4

NEWTON, Mass. (3/11/2015) - The Lasell College men's lacrosse team fell to Plymouth State University 6-4 on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action at Grellier Field.

Senior midfielder Dylan Fernandes (Billerica, Mass.) led the Lasers with a pair of goals, while classmate midfielder Aaron LaPorte (Gorham, Maine) and sophomore midfielder Connor Johnson (Hampstead, N.H.) each chipped in with single markers. Johnson scooped up a career-high seven ground balls, while senior defenseman Gordon Roberts (Dover, N.H.) picked up four ground balls for Lasell.

Plymouth State senior attack Mike Trocchi (Danvers, Mass.) and junior attack Phil Pichel (Hopkinton, Mass.) each registered two goals, while senior midfielder C.J. Frates (Merrimack, N.H.) and sophomore midfielder Colin Clafin (Pembroke, Mass.) both potted solo markers in the win. Senior defenseman Scott Pelligrinelli (Glastonbury, Conn.) and sophomore midfielder Adam Haversat (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) each recorded four ground balls to lead the Panthers.

The Panthers opened the scoring when Trocchi found the back of the cage just 2:10 into the contest. Plymouth State added its second goal midway through the opening stanza as Pichel registered a marker on a feed from Frates to take a 2-0 advantage. The Lasers got on the scoreboard with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter on an unassisted goal from Fernandes to cut the deficit to a single goal, 2-1. 

Trocchi and Pichel netted the only two tallies in the second quarter at the 14:16 mark and with 8:28 to play in the half as Plymouth State had the lead 4-1 at the break.

With the score 5-1 in favor of the visitors, Johnson began a streak of three consecutive goals for Lasell. Johnson made the score 5-2 on a goal from junior attack Pat Egan (Glen Rock, N.J.) to close the third quarter, while Egan found Fernandes for a Lasers goal 1:37 into the final quarter. LaPorte closed the Panthers' lead to one goal 2:51 later with an unassisted tally making the score 5-4 with 10:32 to play.

Claflin netted the all important insurance goal for the Panthers, which made the score 6-4, and sealed the victory with just 1:55 left on the clock. 

Junior goalkeeper David Walen (Longmeadow, Mass.) made 19 saves for Lasell in the circle, while in the other crease, senior Chris St. George (Marblehead, Mass.) registered 10 saves for Plymouth State. 

The Panthers held a slim 35-33 advantage in ground balls and outshot Lasell by a 40-29 margin. Lasell was successful in 19-of-26 clearing attempts and won 8-of-14 face-offs this afternoon. 

Lasell (1-2) travels to Georgetown, Texas over spring break to take on Centenary (L.A.) on Sunday, March 15 at 12:00 p.m, while Plymouth State (2-1) visits Castleton on Saturday, March 14 for a non-conference contest at 1:00 p.m.