NEWTON, Mass. — The Roger William University men's lacrosse team downed Lasell on Saturday afternoon, 15-8.
 
Matt Halpin (Hanover, Mass.) was the top scorer for the Hawks with four goals, one assist, and four ground balls. Kevin Murphy (Ramsey, N.J.) put three goals in the net and picked up three ground balls while Jack Kester (Londonberry, N.H.) added two goals of his own.
 
For the Lasers, both Nate Taggart and Patrick Mullhern earned two goals. David Burke put one ball in net and picked up five ground balls.
 
Scoring was started my Halpin. The Hawks scored three times in the first quarter before Lasell was able to get a shot in. Murphy put the ball in for a goal, assisted by Halpin. Moments later Brian Gazard (Ashland, Mass.) earned the third goal off of a pass from AJ DaRin (Manlius, N.Y.). With mere seconds left in the frame, Mullhern scored for the Lasers, closing the gap at the end of the quarter with Roger Williams ahead, 3-1.
 
Lasell made the first goal of the second period, followed by a second goal from Halpin for the Hawks. The Lasers and the Hawks were each able to put one more shot in the net, putting the score at 6-3, before Roger Williams pulled father ahead. Nick Cotting (Holliston, Mass.), assisted by Gazard, put the Hawks at 7-3. It wasn't until the end of the half that another goal was made, this one being put in by DaRin, pushing the score to 8-3 going into the third quarter.
 
The Lasers scored twice in the third quarter before the Hawks were able to earn another goal. Murphy scored back-to-back, the second goal being made on a man-up opportunity. Lasell went on to score two more times before Kester put one in, bringing the score to 11-7. Neither team scored again before the frame was up.
 
Roger Williams scored four goals in the final quarter before Lasell earned one. The final point of the game was gained by Laser, Adam Haytayan, with roughly thirty seconds on the clock. The Hawks outdid the Lasers on groundballs, 38-29, and caused turnovers, 9-2.
 
"It is always good to get the first win of the season.  Credit Lasell and their coaching staff for giving us all we could handle," said Head Coach Kevin Gould. "As with most February games, wie leave with a list of areas we need to improve. We need to take care of the next 72 hours and be ready for a talented Wheaton team under the lights, on the road."
 
Roger Williams (1-1, 0-0 CCC) will be on the road again as they face Wheaton on Wednesday, March 1 at 7 pm. They will then host the Emerson Lions on Saturday, March 4 at 1 pm.