BRISTOL, R.I. – Jared Grier (Quincy, Mass.) scored the 157^th goal of his career for the fourth-seeded Roger Williams University Men's Lacrosse team, setting the program record for career goals and the Hawks needed nearly every one of them to hold off the number-five seed, Wentworth Institute of Technology, 11-8 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Quarterfinals at Bayside Field on Saturday afternoon. In addition to Grier's trio of tallies in the game, Matt Halpin (Hanover, Mass.) notched four goals to go with an assist to fuel the offense in support of Max Kimmel's (Milford, Conn.) strong effort in net.
 
With the win, RWU improves to 9-10 overall this season and advances to the CCC Semifinals for the fourth consecutive season. In that contest, they will encounter the second-seeded Gulls of Endicott College who mauled Curry, 14-1. The Leopards, meanwhile, see their season come to a close standing right at .500 at 8-8.

Kimmel was sharp between the pipes for the Hawks to improve to 7-6 on the year. His nine saves and eight goals allowed only tell a part of the story as the freshman looked active and aggressive, collecting a season-high three ground balls on the day. Jack Munroe (Mansfield, Mass.) got the nod for the guests and allowed 11 goals against six saves to fall to 8-8.
 
Hawk Highlights
Matt Halpin: 4 goals, 1 assist, 2 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
Jared Grier: 3 goals, 2 ground balls
AJ DaRin: 2 goals, 1 assist, 2 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
Jordan Pivarnik: 13-22 face-offs won, 9 ground balls
 
Max Kimmel: 9 saves, 8 goals allowed, 3 ground balls, 60:00 minutes in goal
 
For The Opponents
Erik Madden: 5 goals, 1 ground ball, 1 caused turnover
Calvin McKenna: 3 assists
Sam Prunier: 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 caused turnover
Danny Bartosiewicz: 7 ground balls, 5 caused turnovers
 
Jack Munroe: 6 saves, 11 goals allowed, 2 ground balls, 60:00 minutes in goal
 
How It Happened
If you were late to file in and find your seat for this one, you very likely missed the game's first score as just 63 seconds into the opening stanza Erik Madden (Central Tuftonboro, N.H.) found the back of the net for Wentworth. It would end up being a sign of things to came as it was the first of a game-high five goals by the senior as Roger Williams had trouble finding an answer defensively. But lucky for them, the best defense is a great offense and that was the case for the rest of the quarter as the Hawks tallied four unanswered goals. Matt Halpin (Hanover, Mass.) got things going with his first of the contest just over five minutes. At about the six and a half minute mark, Ryan Phillips (Hanover, Mass.) thrust the hosts in front with an unassisted tally then Jared Grier (Quincy, Mass.) added another for RWU off a feed from Halpin. Halpin was then on the receiving end of a pass from Phillips to net his second of the quarter to close a stretch of 95 seconds that saw the Hawks find the back of the net three times. The Leopards finally had an answer with just over two minutes left but the damage was done, and the hosts held a 4-2 lead.
 
The second quarter began the same way the first one did, as Madden scored off a dime from Calvin McKenna (Lake Tapps, Wash.) to cut the deficit to one. Grier answered with his second of the game and 156^th of his career to bring him even with Will Siefert '16 atop the program leaderboard. AJ DaRin (Manlius, N.Y.) then got one for the hosts to start the best game of his freshman season, opening a 6-3 edge. Madden would strike for the third time in the half to get the visitors within striking distance at 6-4 entering the break.
 
History would ensue to open the second half as with 9:22 remaining, Grier reached the summit for career goals netting tally number 157 in his tremendous RWU career with Phillips playing his part as the distributer. RWU looked like they were about to run away with it after Halpin netted his third of the game, but Madden responded with his fourth and fifth tallies in the content with each occurring within the final four minutes to get the Leopards back within two, at 8-6, at the end of the third stanza.
 
Finally, the Hawks created separation for good as Noah Ravas (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) scored off a DaRin dime and then they reversed roles for the host's tenth of the game. Halpin put the finishing touches on his outstanding performance with five and a half left to get the lead to five, the largest of the day. WIT threatened a comeback, getting goals from Drew Bouley (Gloucester, Mass.) and Sam Prunier (Hollis, N.H.) but they fell short and Roger Williams advanced with the 11-8 win.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams will make the trip up to Endicott to battle the number-two seeded birds from Beverly in the CCC Semifinals on Wednesday. Start time is yet to be announced.