'Beverly, MASS. 03/05/05--The Keene State College men's lacrosse team opened its 2005 season with a 15-7 loss to Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.  Five Endicott players scored hat tricks in the convincing win. Kevin Lally (Derry, NH), Burt Fahy (Needham, MA), Parker Sowles (Cumberland, ME), Sam Chidester (Eliot, ME), and Josh Gilbert (Simsbury, Conn.) netted three goals apiece.

Chidester put the Gulls on the board at 13:28 with an early goal. Keene's Eric Momnie (South Windsor, CT) tied the game just six seconds later with a quick tally. The Gulls then rallied with seven unanswered goals to end the first half with an 8-1 lead.

KSC came back fighting strong in the second half as Momnie scored five goals and junior midfielder Travis Pedley (Bow, NH) added one to narrow the Gull's lead, 11-7. Following the Owl's rally, Endicott's defense stood strong and shut out Keene for the remainder of the game. Lally, Fahy, Sowles, and Chidester each scored one more time to finish off the Owls 15-7. Lally finished the game with four assists.

Sophomore Patrick Gaffney scooped up 10 ground balls to anchor the Endicott defense. Junior Ryan Walsh recorded 14 saves between the pipes and also added an assist. Also contributing defensively were senior Josh Maciorowski (Guilford, CT) and junior Ryan Fraine (Billerica, MA).

Keene was led offensively by Momnie, who recorded six goals on eight shots. Freshman Goalie Matt Johnson (Derry, NH) made 11 saves for the Owls. 

KSC defeated the Gulls 15-7 in last year's season opener. 

Keene State (0-1) faces Amherst College on March 15 during its annual Spring Break trip in Florida.  Endicott (1-0) faces Wesleyan University on the road, Tuesday, March 8.

(courtesy of Endicott College)