MANCHESTER, N.H. – Sophomore Alex Pacitti (Foxboro, Mass.) scored a goal and added an assist, but visiting New York Institute of Technology spoiled the Saint Anselm College men's lacrosse home opener with nine straight game-opening goals en route to a 21-5 win over the Hawks Tuesday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.
The Bears, ranked No. 4 in the latest U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches' Poll, improved to 3-1 on the year—its lone loss coming in a heartbreaker last Saturday to top-ranked Limestone, 8-7. Tuesday's loss drops Saint Anselm to 0-2 overall on the year as it enters Northeast-10 Conference play this weekend.
NYIT took control early and often, winning 12 of first 14 faceoffs and outscored Saint Anselm 11-1 after the first two quarters. The Hawks' first goal came just one minute into the second period as Pacitti connected with sophomore Colin Swanson (Nashua, N.H.) to cut the lead to 9-1.
The Bears would add four straight goals bridging the halftime break before sophomore Matt Johnson (Watertown, Mass.) and junior Ben Warren (Georgetown, Mass.) put away back-to-back unassisted tallies. Pacitti then recorded an unassisted goal of his own with just over a minute remaining in the third period and junior James McCurdy (Canton, Mass.) notched his first goal of the season off an assist from junior Jake Stokes (Beverly, Mass.) to cap off the Hawks' scoring midway through the fourth quarter.
Freshman goalkeeper Lucas DeAngelo (Byfield, Mass.) recorded eight saves in his first collegiate action, seeing 26 shots on goal while taking the loss. Junior James O'Neill (East Walpole, Mass.) also stepped into the crease in the fourth quarter, recording five saves on eight shots.
Saint Anselm will play its third straight ranked foe and second straight top-five opponent Saturday, hosting No. 3 Adelphi in a 1 p.m. matchup at Grappone Stadium.
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