River Hawks Drop Close Game To Manhattan 8-5

Saturday, March 12

Lowell, MA

1PM

University of Massachusetts Lowell

1-5

Manhattan

1-6

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Manhattan	2	0	2	4	8
UMass Lowell	2	2	0	1	5

River Hawks Drop Close Game To Manhattan 8-5

3/12/2016 3:52:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Box Score (.pdf) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – The River Hawks started the game strong Saturday, but a second half surge by visiting Manhattan proved to be too much, as UMass Lowell fell 8-5 at Cushing Field Complex.

With the loss, River Hawks fall to 1-5 on the season, as the Jaspers pick up their first win to move to 1-6.

UMass Lowell got off to as hot a start as they've had all year, scoring two goals in the first 2:24. Freshman Blaine McMahon (New Milford, Conn.) scored his fourth career goal to get things started at 13:28, Austin Lane followed him 50 seconds later with his seventh of the year, assisted by Jared Zaniewski. The teams went back and forth until six minutes to go in the quarter, when Manhattan got a man up goal from Cole Johnson. The Jaspers scored again with 11 seconds left in the quarter off the stick of Alex Abiog, leaving the teams knotted at two going into the first break.

The second quarter was a defensive stalemate for the first 14 minutes, with the two teams combining for nine turnovers. But, with 1:27 left in the quarter, Sophomore Keenan Koswin (Winnipeg, Manitoba) found Matt Balter (West Sand Lake, N.Y.) to break the tie. The assist extended Koswin's consecutive point streak to four games. With 19 seconds left before halftime, Sophomore Cory Highfield (Georgetown, Ontario) added an unassisted goal to put the River Hawks up two.

It was Manhattan who's halftime adjustments made the difference, they scored five unanswered goals, and outscored UMass Lowell 6-1 in the final two frames on their way to the victory. The River Hawks lone second half goal came from Sophomore Sean Tyrrell (Calgary, Alberta), his sixth of the year. The late push was not enough, despite smothering defense from UMass Lowell in the final minutes.

The River Hawks generated numerous quality scoring chances throughout the game, but Jaspers sophomore goalie Michael Zingaro was too strong, stopping 13 shots. Freshman UMass Lowell goalie Grant Lardieri (Ada, Mich.) continued to show improvement, stopping six shots, including a few highlight saves in the first half.

The River Hawks have a couple of days off before they hit the road to visit Wagner March 15^th. Then it's back home Saturday the 19^th at 1 PM for the conference opener as Hartford comes to Cushing Field Complex.