Cougars top Seahawks in season opener

THE BASICS

-The Score: Clark University 15, Salve Regina University 10

-Records: Clark (1-0), Salve Regina (0-1)

-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Granger Field)

-The Lead: Led by a six goal show from senior Brandon King (Eastham, Mass.), the Clark University men's lacrosse team defeated the Seahawks of Salve Regina University on Saturday afternoon to kick off their 2018 campaign.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Clark took an early 2-0 lead on back-to-back goals from King at the 9:41 and 9:10 mark. The Seahawks hopped on the board on an unassisted goal from Pat Leary (Wakefield, Mass.) with under five minutes to play in the first quarter.

-Another goal from King and a tally from sophomore Chris Rasco (Huntington, N.Y.) extended Clark's lead to 4-1 but Salve closed the first quarter with a goal from Mike Mongelli (Roslyn, N.Y.) with just 11 seconds on the clock, 4-2.

-Senior Andrew Ferra (Cranston, R.I.) started scoring in the second to bring Salve back within one point of the hosts, 4-3, but the Cougars scored five unanswered goals over the next 13 minutes. King posted two more while Rasco fired in a second. Owen Lamerson (Greenlawn, N.Y.) and freshman Mark Della Torre (Bethany, Conn.) rounded out the scoring for Clark in the second.

-Salve closed out scoring before the half with another goal from Mongelli at the one minute mark. Clark took the 9-4 lead heading into the halftime break.

-Leary found Zach Makoske (Shoreham, N.Y.) who fired one in for the Seahawks to tighten the gap to 9-5 with 11:36 to play in the third. Clark responded with a goal when Jack Pierce (Westborough, Mass.) set up Rasco for his third goal of the game and the 10-5 lead. With eight minutes on the clock sophomore Bobby Philbin (Ridgefield, Conn.) won a face-off and barreled down the field to get himself a goal. Jack Mandracchia (Melrose, Mass.) and Will Mandracchia (Melrose, Mass.) wrapped up scoring for Clark in the third and Leary added two more for Salve. Clark led 13-7 heading into the final stanza.

-The Seahawks outscored the Cougars in the fourth, 3-2. The visitors came back within four when Leary and Makoske tallied back-to-back goals to start the quarter, 13-9. Rasco extended Clark's lead back to five with a goal at the 9:51 mark, but Salve came back within four when first year Brendan Kelly (Long Beach, N.Y.) found the back of the net, 14-10.

-Clark held onto the lead and King tallied one more goal to seize the 15-10 final victory for the Cougars.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-King led the Cougars to victory with six points from six goals. Leary led the Seahawks with five points from four goal and an assist in the setback.

-Junior goalkeeper Nathan Measelek (Marblehead, Mass.) made 16 saves for Clark and earned the victory. Matt D'Amore (Duxbury, Mass.) made 18 saves for Salve.

-Clark had 62 ground balls and were 18-for-22 in clear attempts. Salve recorded 26 ground balls and were 16-for-20 in clear attempts.

-Clark won 20 of 27 face-offs in the game. Philbin won 16 of 20 face-offs for Clark.

UP NEXT

-Clark travels to Johnson & Wales University on Saturday, February 24^th at 1:00 p.m.

-Salve Regina hosts Salem State on the same day at 1:00 p.m.