WESTON, Mass. – The Regis College men's lacrosse team was outscored 7-2 in the second half as the Pride dropped a New England Collegiate Conference match against Mitchell College 13-9 on Saturday afternoon. With the loss the Pride fall to 8-4, 1-1 NECC and with the victory the Mariners improve to 5-7, 3-0 NECC.
Regis held the advantage in shots 47-25, groundballs 37-25 and turnovers 21-22 against the visitors.
The Pride opened up the scoring three minutes into the contest after sophomore attack Alex Ferran (Miami, Fla.) scooped up a groundball off a save, deked Mariner goalie J.D. LeMay (Lagrangeville, N.Y.) and scored.
Mitchell would respond a few minutes later when senior midfielder Tyler Kradas (Kensington, Conn.) scored his first goal of the contest by coming down the right side of the field and ripped a shot that beat Pride goalkeeper D.J. Barrile (Medford, Mass.) opposite post to tie the game.
Regis netted the next two goals of the first as Ferran grabbed a groundball off a turnover and found freshman midfielder Calvin Brault (Colchester, Vt.) with a quick pass in front. Brault then fired a shot into the cage. Junior midfielder Andrew O'Riley (Hollis, N.H.) scored about 45 seconds after his teammate by cranking back a shot from 12 yards out to give the Pride a 3-1 edge.
The Mariners would knot the score back up by adding two goals of their own. Tyler Kradas bounced a shot in from 10 yards out and junior attack Dan DiGioia (Glen Ridge, N.J.) received a behind the back pass that he ripped into the net.
With two seconds left in the first quarter, rookie Grant Nordlund (Miami, Fla.) converted an impressive behind the back shot that trickled in past the goalie to give the Pride a one goal advantage with three periods to go.
Junior attack Nicky Rodrigo (Miami, Fla.) gave Regis their largest lead of the game when Peter Leighton (Wilmington, Mass.) made a pass from behind the net to a waiting Rodrigo, who then ripped a shot top shelf and put the Pride in front 5-3.
Mitchell would rally and take their first lead of the contest with three straight goals. Tyler Kradas scored his third goal of the contest when he buried a shot top shelf on a backside pass from Tyler Desances (Norwalk, Conn.). Dan DiGioia added his second goal of the contest after his defender fell down and cranked home a shot. Senior midfielder A.J. Fialkowski (San Diego, Calif.) gave the Mariners the lead 6-5 when he converted an open shot from 10 yards out.
The Crimson and Gold added two consecutive goals to head into the half with the lead. Nicky Rodrigo scored his second goal of the contest when the Pride were up a man and Peter Leighton received a quick pass from the goal line and scorched a shot top shelf to put Regis up 7-6 at the intermission.
Mitchell would outscore the hosts 3-0 in the third stanza and put the Mariners up ahead for good. Dan DiGioia and A.J. Fialkowski connected on a give and go and DiGioia ripped a shot past the goalie from 12 yards out to knot the score.
Tyler Kradas scored his game-high fourth goal of the contest when he came from up top, drove down the lane and fired a shot from 12 yards out as the Mariners regained the lead.
Sophomore attack McCarthy Brodaski (East Lyme, Conn.) gave Mitchell some insurance with 1:47 left in the third as he came from behind, received a quick pass from teammate Jordan Cook (Groton, Conn.) and beat the keeper one-on-on to give the Mariners a 9-7 lead.
Regis would cut the lead to one goal at two moments during the final stanza after goals from junior midfielder Jack O'Brien (Milton, Mass.) and Peter Leighton, but it wasn't enough as the Mariners would respond to each Pride goal with one of their own and take the match 13-9.
Nicky Rodrigo scored two goals for the Pride while teammate Peter Leighton added two goals and an assist. Alex Ferran scored a goal and dished out two assists. Jack O'Brien was 10-of-16 during face-offs while Brandon Mehler (Bay Shore, N.Y.) was 7-of-8 and scooped up a team-high seven groundballs.
J.D. LeMay earned the win and moved to 5-6 on the year and stopped a game-high 20 shots during the win. Dan DiGioia and Tyler Kradas scored four goals each while Brian Jordan (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) snagged a game-high eight groundballs.
Regis returns to action on Monday with a contest at Mass. Maritime at 7:00 p.m. while Mitchell travels to Merchant Maine on Wednesday, April 22nd with game-time slated for 7:00 p.m.