BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Lacrosse team fell in the team's season opener to Babson College Saturday afternoon by a 6-12 score.
 
Hawk Highlights
Ryan Phillips: 2 goals, 3 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
Jack Kester: 2 goals, 2 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
Noah Ravas: 2 assists, 2 ground balls
Duncan Gillis: L, 16 saves, 12 goals allowed, 1 ground ball, 60:00 minutes in goal
 
For The Opponents
Lee Sipes: 3 goals, 1 assist
Topher Bower: 2 goals, 1 assist, 5 ground balls
Grey Sunderland: 14 face-offs won, 8 ground balls
Mac Mowat: W, 4 saves, 1 goal allowed, 30:00 minutes in goal
 
How It Happened
The Hawk defense played a bend-but-don't-break battle for the first quarter against Babson. The Beavers outshot the Hawks 13-1 in the period but only managed one goal in the period, a tally by Jacob Tauss (San Marcos, Calif.) with 2:25 left. Jack Kester (Londonderry, N.H.) came right back on the other end for the Hawks, scoring off a pass from Noah Ravas (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) to tie the game up at one entering the second quarter.
 
Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Babson offense began converting their scoring opportunities as a higher rate than the opening quarter. The Beavers put up 18 shots and scored five times in the frame, compared to only five shots for Roger Williams and no goals scored. Babson would go into halftime leading 6-1.
 
 
Topher Bower (Chicago, Ill.) and Matt Stucchi (Rexford, N.Y.) both scored for Babson in first four minutes of the second half before Ravas connected with Kester for the second time of the day. After Lee Sipes (Windham, N.H.) scored the first of his three goals on the day with eight minutes left, Ryan Phillips (Hanover, Mass.) and Tim Mullane (Hanover, Mass.) logged the final two goals of the quarter for RWU, making it 4-9 going into the fourth.
 
Philips brought the Hawks within four to begin the fourth quarter. However, three straight goals by Babson put the game out of reach for RWU, as Sipes tallied Babson's final score with 2:22 left. Brian Gazard (Ashland, Mass.) notched the final score of the game, taking advantage of a loose ball in front of the goal after Babson's keeper could not find the ball after a save.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (0-1): Wednesday, February 23 vs. Johnson & Wales @ 4:00pm
Babson (1-0): Wednesday, February 23 vs. Bates @ 4:00pm