Statistics

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Western New England University opened the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's lacrosse season with a 23-7 victory over the University of New England at Golden Bear Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Mike Bannon scored five goals and dished out three assists to lead the Golden Bears (5-3, 1-0 CCC). Jared Newall also had five goals in the victory.
 
UNE (4-6, 0-1 CCC) put in the first goal of the game as Ryan Hazard scored unassisted 2:10 into the first quarter. Western New England controlled the game from there as it scored the next 15 goals of the game, leading 15-1 with 6:00 to play in the first half. Bannon and Newall each had all five of their goals during the stretch.
 
Colin Watt ended the run with his first of a team-high three goals for the Nor'easter with 2:59 remaining in the quarter. UNE would score four of the last five goals of the half and trailed 16-5 at the break. Jordan White, Andrew Lawrence scored down the stretch. Will Szumita converted on a hail mary shot attempt the length of the field from the Nor'easters' goal as time expired in the half. [Watch]
 
Watt scored in each of the last two quarters for UNE. Matthew Quinn had two goals in the second half for the Golden Bears.
 
Western New England held a large advantage in overall shots (48-24), shots on goal (34-10), and ground balls (39-19).
 
Matt Deyette had 11 saves in the loss for the Nor'easters. Carter Randall earned the victory in net with a save in the first 30 minutes of play.
 
UNE returns to action at home on Wednesday night against Endicott at 7 p.m.