Fast start leads Owls past Seahawks

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The Keene State College men's lacrosse team scored 11 unanswered goals in the first quarter on their way to a 21-7 victory over Salve Regina University at Guadet Field on Wednesday evening. The loss drops the Seahawks to an even 1-1 on the year, while the Owls improve to 1-2 overall.

The Seahawks were led by senior Chris Walker (Marshfield, Mass.) who scored a team-high four goals, putting eight of his 10 shots on net. Senior Kevin Murphy (Yorba Linda, Calif.) added a pair of goals, while sophomore Curtis McKeon (West Haven, Conn.) won 19-of-29 faceoffs and led all players with 17 ground balls on the evening. Sophomore Chad Hollenshade (Lutherville, Md.) rounded-out the Salve Regina scoring with one goal, while junior netminder Evan Simone (Dover, N.H.) made a game-high 16 saves in goal.

The Owls were paced by senior Matt Schairer (Wrentham, Mass.) who led all players with nine points and six goals in the win, while also adding three assists, five ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Junior Taylor Jette (Simsbury, Conn.) also played well, compiling six points on three goals and three assists, while senior Jonathan Rodrick (Plaistow, N.H.), junior Taylor Wicke (Fairfield, Conn.), and freshman Ryan Hart (Richmond, N.H.) each scored three goals apiece. Junior Jason Leser (Brewster, N.Y.) stopped 13-of-20 shots to earn the win in net for the Owls.

The Seahawks got things off on the right foot when senior Brendan Carroll (Garden City, N.Y.) set up Walker for the game's first goal just 1:28 into the opening quarter.

However, the Owls responded by closing out the frame with 11 unanswered goals to build an 11-1 advantage. Schairer compiled three goals and two assists during the run, while Jette collected two goals and three assists. 

The Seahawks scored the first goal of the second quarter on an unassisted marker by Murphy just 1:08 into the period to cut the Owls' lead to 11-2.

After a pair of Keene State goals pushed the score to 13-2, Salve Regina responded by scoring three unanswered goals before halftime, including a pair of scores within the final 1:23 of the quarter. Murphy got things started with his second unassisted tally of the quarter and was followed by a man-up goal from Hollenshade. Walker capped the run by finding the back of the net with just nine seconds remaining in the quarter, sending the Seahawks into the break trailing the Owls by a score of 13-5.

As they had done the previous two quarters, the Seahawks struck first in the third frame, receiving an unassisted score from Walker to cut the Owls' lead down to 13-6.

However, that was as close as the Seahawks got the rest of the way, as the Owls went on to outscore Salve Regina 8-1 the rest of the way, including a 5-0 edge in the fourth quarter, to seal the 21-7 victory.

The Owls will return to action on Saturday, March 17 when they travel to Florida to face Springfield, while the Seahawks hit the road to face MIT this Saturday at 1:00 p.m.