Seahawks fall to Golden Bears

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The Western New England men's lacrosse team used a pair of seven-goal quarters to power its way past Salve Regina, 21-8, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action, Saturday afternoon.

With the win, WNE improves to 5-6 on the year and 4-0 in the CCC while the Seahawks slip to 9-3 on the season and 2-3 in the conference.

The Golden Bears put up seven goals in both the second and fourth quarter while outscoring the Seahawks 14-5 in the two frames. Seniors Owen Caruso (Port Washington, N.Y.) and Colton Craig (Cales Ferry, Conn.) scored back to back goals to open the second quarter before senior Chad Hollenshade (Lutherville, Md.) scored his second of the game off a quick feed from freshman Nick LoCicero (Lynbrook, N.Y.) from behind the net. Sophomore Patick Dillon (Baldwin, N.Y.) and sophomore Sharp Jones (Scituate, Mass.) traded a pair of goals before the Golden Bears went on a four goal run over the next four minutes to take an 11-3 lead.

 Sophomore Alex King (Andover, Mass.) and Jones closed out the half with a pair of goals to cut the WNE lead to 11-5.

Western New England and Salve Regina traded a pair of goals to open the third before junior Garrett Mullins (Jefferson Township, N.J.) closed out the quarter with an unassisted goal with 1:22 left on the clock.

Senior Adam Knapton (Canandaigua, N.Y.) and Hollenshade traded goals in the first 33 seconds of the final quarter before the Golden Bears closed out the game on a six-goal run which included a goal from five different players.

After three straight goals opened the game for Western New England, Hollenshade got the Seahawks on the board with an unassisted goal with 4:45 left in the first quarter.  Senior Mike Donahue (South Windsor, Conn.) finished out the quarter with a goal from junior Dan McKenna (Merrick, N.Y.).

Knapton and senior Sean Lawton (Abington, Mass.) led the Golden Bears with five goals each as 10 different players scored for WNE. Hollenshade and Jones each recorded a hat trick for Salve Regina while LoCicero continued his impressive freshman season with three more assists to bring his season total to 39.

Salve Regina returns to action when the Seahawks take on Nichols on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. CCC contest while the Golden Bears travel to Roger Williams on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. start.