Box Score

BRISTOL, R.I. – The RWU Hawks Men's Lacrosse team (1-4, 1-1) scored four of the game's final five goals, but fell short of their comeback, falling to the visiting New England College Pilgrims (1-5, 1-1), 6-5, Thursday on Bayside Field.

RWU sophomore Justin Leddy (Sea Girt, N.J.) and freshman Drew Beck (Cross River, N.Y.) scored back-to-back goals at 5:04 and 3:20 of the fourth quarter to bring the Hawks to within one, but the hosts entered their offensive zone only once, briefly, for the remainder of the game as the Pilgrims held onto their lead.

Pilgrims senior goalkeeper Nick Fischer (South Burlington, Vt.) posted 15 saves on 28 shots in the contest, including five saves in the final period to pick up his first win of the season. New England College finished with 27 shots, led by junior John Gabriel (West Nyack, N.Y.) who fired six shots. He connected twice, including the game-opener with just three seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Pilgrims junior Matt Carey (Medford, N.Y.) tallied at 9:21 in the second quarter, moving the score to 2-0 where it remained at the break.

Back-to-back goals for New England College to start the third quarter gave the Pilgrims the 4-0 lead before RWU junior Drew Smith (Blue Point, N.Y.) put RWU on the board with an unassisted goal at 6:43 in the frame.

Just 3:14 later NEC was back in front by four with Gabriel's second goal of the game, when he also was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, allowing RWU freshman Ian Powers (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to score on an extra-man opportunity 45 seconds later. With 39 seconds remaining in the third, Smith tallied his second unassisted goal of the game for a score of 5-3 heading into the fourth.

NEC freshman Brian Gillis (N. Vancouver, B.C.) scored at 12:24 before Leddy and Beck tallied the Hawks' final two goals.

The teams both finished the game picking up 43 ground balls, while NEC held the slight advantage in face-offs won, 7-6. Both teams failed on five clear attempts, with NEC attempting 33 and RWU 29.

Both teams continue play against The Commonwealth Coast Conference opponents Saturday at 4 p.m., with the Pilgrims hosting the University of New England and the Hawks hosting Endicott College.