By Hayden Choate
@ChoateHayden
The Springfield College Men’s lacrosse team dropped a tough game to NEWMAC opponent MIT, 19-9, on Saturday afternoon on Stagg Field.
The loss comes after the Pride beat No. 11 Amherst Wednesday night in overtime. The Engineers remain undefeated with a 7-0 record while Springfield falls to 3-5 on the season.
The game began in the Pride’s favor, as they got out to a quick 2-0 lead. Zac Schuette and Mason Nocito opened the scoring early on in the first quarter.
Jarrett Nagengast and Schuette’s second put Springfield up 4-0, with 6:52 left in the first quarter, which forced MIT to call a timeout.
Trying to end Springfield’s momentum with the timeout worked for the Engineers as Liam Miller scored his first of three goals with 4:04 left in the quarter. Gavin Vanderberg’s goal followed just 17 seconds later and MIT had quickly cut the lead in half.
With six seconds left in the first quarter, Nocito got his second of the game as the Pride took a 5-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
To start the second quarter, MIT went on a five-goal run giving them a 7-5 lead with 6:40 left in the first half. Goals by Miller, Vanderberg, Heath Nilsen and Tory Lentine are what gave MIT their first lead of the game.
With 4:40 left in the first half, Joe Maimone cut the lead to one with a goal on the man advantage.
MIT responded with three goals before halftime to give themselves a 10-6 lead headed into the break. This was the start of a seven-goal run for the Engineers who scored four times to begin the third quarter giving them a 14-6 lead.
Matthew Sardis, the faceoff man for MIT, went 22-for-30 on the day including six wins during the seven-goal run MIT went on between the second and third quarters.
Patrick Watson’s goal for Springfield put them on the board in the second half with 5:14 left in the third quarter. The Pride were outscored 14-2 between the second and third quarters of the game.
Jack McCordic and Vanderberg, for the fifth time on the day, each scored to give the Engineers a 16-7 lead at the end of the three quarters.
Miller’s third and Vanderberg’s sixth at the beginning of the fourth added to the MIT lead 18-7. Riley Burgmyer and Maimone found the back of the net with MIT’s Nilsen to end the game 19-9.
Jack Hamilton made six saves off 16 shots for Springfield as first-year Dean Pesce split the game with him. Pesce made 11 saves on 20 shots including a breakaway save in the fourth quarter.
The Pride continue their homestand when they host NESCAC opponent Middlebury on Tuesday night at Stagg Field. They will then face NEWMAC rival Babson on the road next Saturday.
Photo: Springfield College Athletics