In a game where both teams desperately needed a win, Springfield College men’s lacrosse ultimately prevailed and dominated all 60 minutes. The Pride beat Clark University 13-5 and continued their push to qualify for the NEWMAC tournament.
Springfield improved to 3-8 after starting the season 0-8, where it felt like there was no room for error. The Pride have capitalized on three straight opportunities to build confidence, and the win on Saturday afternoon puts them fourth in the NEWMAC standings.
Coach Keith Bugbee admired how the team played defensively, letting up just five goals. They also caused 15 turnovers and did not concede a single man-down goal.
“They were really good as a unit today. They flew all over the place, Bugbee said. “I thought our guys slid well, and overall, this was one of our better days on that side of the field.”
To start the first quarter, Jake Degnan went high-low through the goalie’s legs, and the Pride got on the board first. The goal was followed by a Cougars score three minutes later — and that marked the last time the game was tied. Matt Webb took the lead from a Bryan Stensrud fadeaway pass at X, and although Clark’s Casey McCullough had six first-quarter saves, the Pride led 2-1. Stensrud had six points in the game and notched his fourth straight start with four points or more.
The second quarter was all Springfield. Faceoff specialist Vincent Scaldione was 7-9 on faceoffs in the first half, propelling the Pride to scoring opportunities, such as Degnan’s second goal and Nick Savastano’s crease dump. Springfield’s defense had no holes in the quarter to go with zero goals allowed, backed by Kaden Quirk’s five saves, and the Pride led 5-1 at the half.
“For the most part, we were patient today. We used the shot clock well and weren’t relying on a 20-yard shot,” Bugbee said. “[Stensrud] and some other guys did great things for us. Playing against a zone is boring, but we stuck with it.”
Although Springfield took less than five shots from 20 yards out, Mason Nocito ripped a bouncer from deep that deked out McCullough and snuck in the net. Stensrud opened himself again on the crease and took advantage of a Tierney pass. Tierney got in on some of the scoring action and scored off a 45 degree angle shot. The Pride led 9-3 entering the final 15-minute stretch.
The fourth was more Pride dominance as defender Connor Roberts scored a bouncer on a fastbreak, and two minutes later, the Nocito and Tierney two-man game resulted in a Tierney goal. A couple of goals from Clark made it a six-goal lead for Springfield, but it quickly became eight with goals from Sperlonga and Stensrud as they put the game away.
Springfield faces Coast Guard Academy next Saturday, marking their first away game in three weeks and a week without a game. Bugbee knows rust can be a factor, but he doesn’t fear the layover.
The Pride have already played six teams that have been in the Inside Lacrosse Division III top 20 and will face No. 19 Wesleyan down the road.
“I’m not worried. We’ll just have shorter practices early in the week, maybe have a fun sixes tournament,” Bugbee said. “We’re going to have to ramp it up later in the week, and we have many good teams ahead of us.”
Photo by: Brian Magoffin