WESTON, Mass. – Nicky Rodrigo (Miami, Fla.) netted four goals and added an assist, while Peter Leighton (Wilmington, Mass.) added a hat trick and two assists to combine for 10 points on the day, as Regis College defeated Husson University, 13-6, on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference men's lacrosse action. The Pride improves to 2-0 with the win, while the Eagles drop to 0-2.
Husson struck first to open the game as Brandon Corbo (Merrimack, N.H.) scored on the man advantage on a pass from behind from Derek Driscoll (Portland, Maine). The Pride responded with three-straight goals as Calvin Brault (Colchester, Vt.) scored in similar fashion on a pass from Alex Ferran (Miami, Fla.) to tie the game at one. Jack O'Brien (Milton, Mass.) and Nick Dallas (Huntington Beach, Calif.) followed with unassisted tallies to give the Pride a 3-1 lead with 7:20 to play in the first.
The Eagles cut it to a 3-2 game nearly a minute later as Jack White (Marston Mills, Mass.) took a short pass in front from Kevin Nolan (Norwood, Mass.) for a quick shot that found the back of the net. Leighton scored the final goal of the period when Danny Rancano (Miami, Fla.) laced a pass through the Husson defense to the senior, who beat the keeper one-on-one on the man advantage.
Regis made it a 5-2 lead midway through the second quarter as Ferran received a pass from behind from Leighton for a goal. Brett Martin (Topsham, Maine) kept the Eagles within two as he threaded a shot from 20 yards out that had Husson down 5-3. Leighton and Rodrigo combined for the final goal of the period as a Rodrigo pass was deflected high in the air, but Leighton was there on the goal line to scoop it up and score on an open net to give the Pride a 6-3 lead headed into the break.
Nick Dallas scored his second unassisted goal of the game to open the third quarter, but Zack Glazier (Winthrop, Maine) answered for Husson as the Eagles' offense swung the ball around to the freshman for an open shot. Rodrigo gave the Pride an 8-4 lead headed in to the fourth quarter with his first goal of the day on a nice lefty bounce shot.
Rodrigo and O'Brien scored to open the fourth quarter and put Regis on top 10-4 with 11:49 to play. Husson answered with back-to-back goals from Nolan and Trent Sell (Lititz, Pa.) to stay within striking distance at 10-6, but the Pride scored three-straight goals to end the period, including a pair from Rodrigo, to ice the game and take home the 13-6 victory.
Regis outshot the Eagles 46-35, and grabbed 39 groundballs, while Husson was right behind them with 38 on the day. The Eagles won the turnover battle, 17-27, but struggled on clears going only 13-of-21, compared to a 13-for-15 showing from Regis. The Pride dominated the face-off circle, winning 17-of-22 on the day, with Jack O'Brien winning 15-of-19.
D.J. Barille (Medford, Mass.) grabbed his second win of the year, making 17 saves in net. O'Brien led the Pride defense with eight groundballs, while Andrew O'Reilly (Hollis, N.H.) added six groundballs and a pair of assists. Rodrigo, Leighton, and Colby Connell (Warwick, R.I.) each had a pair of caused turnovers.
Andrew Tarr (Eliot, Maine) made 11 saves in the setback for Husson. Tarr added five groundballs, while Zack Glazier added five of his own. Ben Morris (Gilford, N.H.), James Seager (Gilford, N.H.), and Nicholas Innetti (Rutland, Vt.) had two caused turnovers apiece.
Both teams are back in action on Saturday as Regis will host Bryn Athyn College at 2:00 p.m., while Husson travels to Johnson & Wales University for a 3:00 p.m. game.