THE BASICS 

Score:             
Rivier University, 10; Emmanuel College, 9
Records:         
Emmanuel College Saints (1-4, 0-2 GNAC)
Rivier University Raiders (5-1, 1-0 GNAC)
Location:         
Boston, Mass. – Clemente Field
Date:               
Wednesday, March 23, 2022

THE LEAD:  A strong first-half outing lifted visiting Rivier University over Emmanuel College, 10-9, Wednesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference men's lacrosse action at Roberto Clemente Field in Boston, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Saints fell behind early for the second straight GNAC contest and were never able to get the equalizer despite a strong second half showing in which they outscored Rivier 5-1 over the final two periods.
• Rivier got on the board just 34 seconds into the action on a score by Jeffery Potter before the sides traded goals to a 2-2 score with both Emmanuel tallies coming from junior Ryan Castle (Boxford, Mass.).
• The Raiders ripped off three straight scores including two more from Potter to hold a 5-2 advantage with 7:19 remaining in the first.
• Ry. Castle added his third goal of the quarter with 2:44 left in the opening frame but RIV sophomore Michael Ference found the back of the net with 42 tics to play to give Rivier the 6-3 cushion through one.
• Rivier outscored EC by a 3-1 margin in the second as Sawyer Hall, Ference and Connor Eck all added markers while Emmanuel sophomore Aidan Sullivan (Burlington, Conn.) netted the only goal by the Saints in the frame to account for the 9-4 score at halftime.
• The Saints defensive unit held Rivier to just one goal in the third period while senior Colin Dickinson (Barre, Vt.) and Ry. Castle chipped away with goals to cut the deficit to 10-6 entering the fourth.
• Dickinson added his second score of the action with 12:18 to play in regulation to make it 10-7 before sophomore Robert Favuzza (Saugus, Mass.) made it a two-score game at 10-8 with 5:49 left.
• The Saints pulled within a goal on Ra. Castle's fifth goal of the evening with 2:24 remaining in the fourth but were unable to even the score down the stretch as the Raiders held on for the 10-9 road win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Emmanuel outshot Rivier by a 61-27 margin but it was not enough as the Raiders held on for their sixth consecutive victory over the Saints.
• Sawyer Gagnon earned the win in net for Rivier making 14 saves to improve to 5-1 on the year.
• Sophomore goalie Eric Anderson (Sparta, N.J.) was phenomenal in goal during the second half for EC making six saves on seven shots on frame.
• Ry. Castle finished the night with a game-high five goals for EC on 20 shots while Dickinson notched two goals. Favuzza ended the day with one goal and two dimes.
• Potter paced Rivier with a team-high three goals while Ference tallied four points on two goals and two assists. Eck chipped in with two goals and one helper.

UP NEXT

• The Saints hit the road on Saturday, March 26 for a GNAC showdown in Providence, R.I. vs. Johnson & Wales University at 1:00 PM
• Rivier hosts Lasell University the same day with the first faceoff scheduled for 1:00 PM in Nashua, N.H.