Men's Lacrosse: Landon Reyes scores hat trick in 11-8 setback to Norwich in GNAC title game

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Landon Reyes and Bash Cunningham finished with three and two goals, respectively, for the second-seeded Lasell University men's lacrosse team during an 11-8 setback to top-seeded Norwich at Sabine Field Saturday afternoon in the GNAC championship game.

The Lasers (12-7, 9-1 GNAC) defeated third-seeded Rivier, 8-4, in the semifinals and Saint Joseph (Conn.), 13-6, during the quarterfinals, with both games being played at Grellier Field. Norwich was the only GNAC team that Lasell lost to all season, as the visiting Cadets (18-1, 10-0 GNAC) earned a 12-5 victory on April 27 against the Lasers.

"It was a great first season," said Lasell University Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Dieter Treusdell. "I cannot say enough good things about this team. The championship game did not go our way, but it was an incredible effort. Our guys showed heart and left it all on the field."

Tyler Rose, Alex Beauchemin and Reyes represented the Lasers on the All-Tournament team. Reyes tallied six goals and one assist during the three games, Beauchemin posted a .789 save percentage in the semifinal game against Rivier, stopping 15-of-19 shots, and Rose posted five ground balls and three turnovers in the championship game.

Lasell won 10 straight games from March 16 - April 23, with nine taking place in the conference. Prior to Saturday's game, the unit was victorious in 12 of its previous 13 games. Lasell's defense was stout this season, holding seven opponents to four or less goals.

"Our upperclassmen and captains really led the way for us all year, from starting, 0-5, to getting to a back-and-forth championship game," said Treusdell. "The future is bright here because of the example they set day in and day out. I would like to say thank you to all that supported us this year. Our parents and alumni are one of a kind. I also want to thank Assistant Coach Andrew Blood for all the time he has put in this year. He has meshed so well with our culture."

Senior goalkeeper Alex Beauchemin earned two GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week awards, as he is second in the conference in goals-against average (7.51) and ranks third in save percentage (.606). The team's offense was led by a balanced attack in James Anderson (40 goals, 15 assists), Ryan Stone (29 goals, 14 assists), Landon Reyes (29 goals, 9 assists), Jordan Hines (27 goals, 10 assists), Bash Cunningham (22 goals, 13 assists), David Burke (23 goals, 10 assists), Anthony DeRosa (13 goals, 13 assists) and Nate Taggart (10 goals, 11 assists).

Callum Jones was the MVP of the GNAC Tournament for the Cadets, while Parker Campbell, Mason McMahon, Thomas Muraski and Payden Masaracchia were named to the All-Tournament squad. Norwich earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament and will learn its first-round matchup on Sunday during the NCAA selection show at 9 p.m.

On Saturday, the hosts were led by Jones (3 goals, 2 assists), Jack Anzalone (goal, 4 assists) Tyler Seidel (2 goals, assist), Campbell (goal, 2 assists) and Jake Andrews-Pestana (2 goals). Goalie Andrew Vernon stopped 14-of-22 shots in a winning effort.

Anzalone scored 1:09 into the first quarter to give Norwich a 1-0 advantage, and then Beauchemin made an outstanding save on a shot by Jones with 8:41 on the scoreboard. Stone knotted the game at 1-1 less than a minute later on a shot from point-blank range off a feed by Taggart. Reyes scored a man-up goal, eluding his defender with a spin move on the left side, giving the Lasers the lead for the first time at 2-1 with 5:28 remaining.

Anderson, who tallied his 100th career goal in the first round of the playoffs, made an exceptional pass to Cunningham with four seconds left on the shot clock, but Cunningham's shot was denied on a superb save by Vernon with 1:40 left in the first. Beauchemin turned aside a drive by Andrews-Pestana with 50 seconds remaining during a delayed penalty, allowing the visitors to take a 2-1 advantage into the second quarter.

After Norwich knotted the game at 2-2, Reyes went back to work and tallied a wrap-around goal from just outside the crease, putting the Lasers in front, 3-2, with 8:34 on the clock. The Cadets took a 4-3 lead with 1:33 left, and then Steven Phelps won the ensuing faceoff and Cunningham scored seven seconds later, evening the score. A goal by Hines with 27 seconds remaining sent the Lasers into halftime with a 5-4 lead.

The Cadets scored four of the first five goals during the third quarter, as a tally by Campbell gave the unit an 8-6 lead with 7:49 showing on the clock. Lasell kept battling and responding, as Reyes completed his hat trick with 1:42 on the clock, and then Cunningham bounced a shot into the top shelf of the goal, evening the score at 8-8 with 22 seconds showing. A goal by Jones with six seconds on the clock sent the hosts into the final 15 minutes with a 9-8 lead.

Jones and Seidel struck in the fourth quarter to end the scoring. Seidel's goal with 1:12 remaining gave the unit a three-goal lead for the first time in the game.

Norwich led the shots' category, 42-40, and held a 24-22 advantage in shots on goal. Lasell won the ground balls statistic, 35-32, while Phelps won 12-of-23 faceoffs. Rose led all players with his three caused turnovers and Phelps tied a career-high with a game-high nine ground balls.

Lasell and Norwich have meet in three straight GNAC championship game. The Lasers won in 2021, 15-7, and the Cadets earned an 8-6 victory in 2019. 

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

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