Seahawks wrap regular season with OT thriller; await playoff opponent

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Nick LoCicero's (Lynbrook, N.Y.) goal with 2:39 remaining in overtime lifted the Salve ReginaUniversity men's lacrosse team to a 14-13 win overWentworth Institute of Technology in Commonwealth Coast Conference play Saturday night on Sweeney Field.

With the win, the Seahawks improve to 11-6 overall and 4-4 in CCC play, while the Leopards falls to 4-11 (2-5).

Sophomore Alex Makoske (Shoreham, N.Y.) set up sophomore Andrew Fera (Cranston, R.I.) for the first goal of the game at 11:38 to put Salve Regina up 1-0. Less than a minute later, senior Tim Parlato (Needham, Mass.) tallied the equalizer at 10:27 that was followed up by the unassisted go-ahead goal from senior Nick Parent (Windham, N.H.) at 9:45. Senior Sharp Jones' (Scituate, Mass.) marker at 5:11 capped off three Seahawks goals in a matter of two minutes to put Salve Regina up 4-2. The Seahawks extended their lead to three at 5-2 thanks to Jones' third goal of the first quarter at 3:20. After senior Alec Paradis' (Pelham, N.H.) tallied an unassisted goal at 1:38 to cut the lead to 5-3, freshman Jason Buck's (Manlius, N.Y.) net with 39 ticks left closed out the first.

Makoske gave Salve Regina an insurance goal at 13:59 to put the Seahawks up 6-4 to begin the second. Paradis found the back of the net at 12:22 to bring Wentworth back within one at 6-5 at 12:22 and squared the game at 6-6 on a man-up opportunity at 9:29. At the 5:07 mark of the second, freshmanSpencer Allen (New Boston, N.H.) set up sophomore Kevin Butler (Jefferson, Mass.) to help boost Wentworth to regain the 7-6 edge. The Leopards' lead was short-lived as LoCicero closed out the half with two consecutive goals to put the Seahawks on top, 8-7.

Salve Regina opened the third quarter with a marker just 38 seconds in by Jones to give the Seahawks the 9-7 lead. Allen's market at the 10:42 mark put Wentworth back within one at 9-8 and was followed up with a goal from Paradis at 8:05 to put the game at 9-9. A little over two minutes after Wentworth squared the game at 9-all, Parent set up Buck for the go-ahead goal to put the Leopards back on top, 10-9, at 6:25 of the third. Wentworth held Salve Regina scoreless through the remaining six minutes and held onto the 10-9 lead entering the fourth.

The game remained neck-and-neck as Salve Regina found the back of the net 17 seconds into the fourth on a goal by junior Eric Backus (Mansfield, Mass.) to even the game at 10-10. Jones and LoCicero helped put the Seahawks back on top at 12-10 with two back-to-back goals with seven minutes remaining.

Wentworth continued to claw their back from behind and got two goals back from junior Sean Farmer (Billerica, Mass.) and Parlato to tie the game at 12-12 with five and a half minutes left.

Just as Wentworth roared their way back to even the score, Salve Regina tallied a goal by Fera at 4:20 to take the 13-12 lead. With 41 seconds left on the clock and Wentworth down by one, Paradis sent in the game-tying goal at 13-13. Just before the buzzer sounded, Parlato nearly gave the hosts a win, however his bid was denied and the game entered overtime.

In overtime, the Leopards got a caused turnover from Parlato, however were unable to capitalize and gave the ball back to Salve Regina. The Seahawks cleared the ball and put a shot on goal, which was saved by sophomore Adam Dufault(Lexington, Mass.) LoCicero scooped up the ground ball and worked around for an open shot which beat Dufault and gave Salve Regina the win.

Jones led Salve Regina with five goals, one assist and scooped up two ground balls, while LoCicero tallied four goals, two assists and scooped up seven ground balls and Makoske had two goals with three assists and two ground balls. Junior Jake Gonzalez (Tolland, Conn.) won 14 face-offs in the X as sophomore Matt D'Amore (Duxbury, Mass.) had 17 saves through 60 minutes.

Paradis paced the Black & Gold with five goals, one assist, scooped up four ground balls and had two caused turnovers, while Parlato and Buck each scored two goals each, along with Parlato scooping up five ground balls and Parent had one goal and two assists. Dufault had 20 saves in the loss.

Salve Regina held the 39-38 edge in ground balls, along with shots (48-41) and face-offs (15-14). Wentworth held the 18-17 advantage in clears. The Seahawks went 0-for-4 in man-up opportunities while the Leopards went 2-for-7.