Seahawks celebrate Senior Day with 11-9 win over Nichols

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Senior Brendan Rooney (West Newton, Mass.) scored four goals to send the Salve Regina University men's lacrosse team to an 11-9 win over Nichols College in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) men's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at Gaudet Field.

Junior Chris Walker (Marshfield, Mass.) and freshman Chad Hollenshade (Lutherville, Md.) each scored three times for the Seahawks, who evened their record at 7-7 on the season (4-4 TCCC). Senior Ryan Pacific (Danbury, Conn.) paced the Bison (3-9, 1-8 TCCC) with four goals.

The Seahawks led 3-1 after one quarter of play behind goals from Walker, Hollenshade and senior Evan Gates (Ridge, N.J.). Pacific scored two of the three Bison goals in the second quarter while Walker and Rooney scored for SRU to bring the score at the break to 5-4 in favor of the home team.

Salve Regina scored the first three goals of the third quarter to take an 8-4 lead 10 minutes in. Walker opened the scoring with his 35th of the year at 5:47, followed by back-to-back goals by Hollenshade at 5:50 and 4:41. Pacific scored two of the next three goals to bring Nichols to within three (9-6) at the end of three.

Senior Austin Healy (Westford, Mass.) scored his 12th of the season with 8:31 to go in the fourth to cut the Bison deficit to two (9-7). Rooney answered with a pair - his 20th and 21st tallies of the season - to push the SRU lead back to four at 11-7. Nichols closed the game with goals by senior Tim Ahern (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Healy.

Gates finished with a goal and an assist for the Seahawks while junior Brendan Carroll (Garden City, N.Y.) and freshman Curtis McKeon (West Haven, Conn.) each racked up two assists. For Nichols, Healey and Ahern each potted two goals while Gillis found the back of the net once. McKeon also won 17-of-22 face-offs.

Senior Brett Pimental (East Falmouth, Mass.) made 15 saves for Salve Regina to improve to 7-6 on the season. Junior Scott Gray (Annapolis, Md.) stopped 22 shots for the Bison, who were outshot 49-34 on the afternoon. Walker led all SRU field players with four ground balls while senior Patrick Mayo (Peabody, Mass.) and sophomores Chris Barchard (Dracut, Mass.) and Macaulay Gillis (Northborough, Mass.) each collected four for the Bison.

The Seahawks return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Gordon for a 4 p.m. contest. The Bison conclude their regular season with a 1:30 p.m. matchup with Curry next Saturday in Dudley.