BRISTOL, R.I. – On the first official day of Spring Break, the Roger Williams University men's lacrosse team downed Wheaton, 11-9, in non-conference action on Bayside Field.
 
The Hawks took 51 shots in the contest while holding Wheaton to 32 in the match. Roger Williams also completed 23-of-24 clear attempts, while Wheaton completed 20 of their 25 clear attempts. Roger Williams picked up the edge in ground balls 27-17, and faceoffs 13-10.
 
Kevin Murphy (Ramsey, N.J.) and Matt Hemmert (Braintree, Mass.) each had four goals in the contest, with Matt Halpin (Hanover, Mass.) also registering four points with a goal and three assists. The Hawks had five goals scorers with Brian Gazard (Ashland, Mass.) and Eric Brooks (Milford, Mass.) each potting a goal into the cage. Tyler Zanini (Hopkinton, Mass.) had three caused turnovers in the contest, while Murphy forced a pair along with Kyle Zirn (Chester, N.H.) and Chris Giorgi (Danbury, Conn.). Michael Bussinelli (Ridgewood, N.J.) grabbed six ground balls with Zanini picking up four to lead the way.  In cage, Aaron D'Aversa (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) made nine saves in the contest.
 
For Wheaton, Connor Almstrom made 14 saves in cage, with Emmett Edwards tallying six goals in the matchup. Charlie Goodrich and Charlie Racine each added a goal and assist. Racine also had a pair of caused turnovers in the contest, with two ground balls.
 
The Hawks opened up scoring the first goal of the contest just 21 seconds into the gaem, when Murphy put one into the back of the cage.  After playing a scoreless seven minutes following, Edwards responded for Wheaton, leveling the score at 1-1 with 7:19 remaining.  The tie did not last long as Hemmert scored his first of the game off a pass from Pehrson Szuluk (Avon, Conn.) 16 seconds later, before putting in another one 54 seconds after that.
 
Wheaton scored with Edwards putting in his second goal of the game with 4:24 remaining in the opening quarter, before Hemmert scored with 3:38 remaining in the first to take a 4-2 lead into the second frame.
 
Wheaton opened the second quarter with a pair of goals in the second quarter, before Murphy scored back-to-back goals on to give the Hawks the 6-4 lead. Edwards again found twine to cut the Roger Williams lead in half, but The Hawks connected for three goals in the final 6:29 of play to take a 9-5 lead into the break.
 
Wheaton was able to level the score at nine with 3:56 remaining, after scoring three straight goals in the third frame, taking a 9-9 game into the final quarter. The Hawks were able to hold on for the win however, with Halpin and Hemmert scoring the lone goals of the fourth quarter, taking the win.
 
"I was happy to see us step up and finish a close, tough, grinder of a game in the fourth quarter," exclaimed Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Kevin Gould. "The defense, especially our man down defense, stepped up in crunch time.  Great to get the win to kick off Spring Break!"
 
Roger Williams (5-2, 0-0 CCC) will travel down to the University of Delaware for a matchup against Kean on Wednesday, Mar. 13 at 12:00 pm.  The Hawks will then take on Eastern Connecticut State on Tuesday, Mar. 19 at Rick McCarthy Field.