LOWELL, Mass.—The UMass Lowell men's lacrosse team earned its first win of the season Saturday afternoon, holding off America East opponent Hartford for a 12-10 victory at Cushing Field. With the win, the River Hawks move to 1-2 on the season, while the Hawks drop to 0-2.
 
Senior captains Domenic Giachello (Somers, Conn.) (2G, 1A) and Jake Lining (Rochester, Mich.) (1G, 2A) led UMass Lowell today on offense, each finishing the day with three points apiece. Giachello and three other River Hawks—senior Kyle Laforge (Tyngsboro, Mass.), junior Sean Parker (Flemington, N.Y.) and graduate student Dylan Rhatigan (Holbrook, N.Y.)—each registered two goals in today's outing. At the X, Liam McDonough won 12-of-24 faceoffs and secured a team-high seven ground balls.
 
"We had to work really hard throughout the game, credit to them and their defense. They did a nice job," said Head Coach Ed Stephenson. "But, the guys just kept working, sticking to it, and we were able to come out with a win."
 
The River Hawks struck first in the afternoon tilt, taking a 2-0 lead over the Hawks just three minutes into the quarter. Parker found the back of the net first, cutting down the left side before firing in his second of the season. Capitalizing on quick ball movement, Giachello shook his defender and added to the River Hawks total with his first of the day minutes later. A two-goal scoring run by Hartford to end the quarter would move the teams into the second frame locked at 2-2.
 
Extending their scoring streak, the Hawks put up three early goals to move to a 5-2 advantage over UMass Lowell. However, a strong effort in transition by the River Hawks shifted momentum in their favor, with Giachello opening up a three-goal scoring run off a Hartford turnover. After a Hawks penalty gave UMass Lowell the man-up opportunity, the River Hawks capitalized with a goal on the doorstep by Laforge off the feed from Giachello at 7:20. Just six seconds later, McDonough made quick work of the faceoff, scoring off the scrum at X to even the score at 5-5. After trading shots to keep the game tied, a late tally by Hartford gave them the 7-6 edge over the River Hawks heading into halftime.
 
A quiet third quarter kept Hartford with a one-goal advantage despite a tally from Rhatigan at 9:55 to briefly level the score once more. In goal, sophomore Max Christides (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) matched his first-quarter high in saves with four to keep the River Hawks within reach moving into the last 15.
 
UMass Lowell exploded on offense early in the fourth, putting up five-unanswered goals in just under five minutes to extend their margin to 12-8 over the Hawks. Despite two late marks from Hartford to cut down the River Hawks' lead to two, an impressive defensive effort led by Christides kept the Hawks off the board and secured the win for UMass Lowell.
 
Christides finished with a career-high 13 saves in the cage and a team-high three caused turnovers.
 
"Max was very confident, seeing the ball well, and he made some huge stops for us. He's the anchor of the defense. I think the guys responded to him today, making those saves and keeping us in it," said Stephenson.
 
The River Hawks continue their homestand next Saturday, March 20, when they host the Stony Brook Seawolves for a 1 p.m. clash at Cushing Field.