Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Keene State College men's lacrosse team let up the game-winner with 37 seconds left as the Owls dropped their season opener to Western New England, 17-16, in a thrilling non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon at Ronald J. Abdow Field on the campus of American International College. It was the season opener for both squads.
Patrick Dillon scored which proved to be the game-winner for the Golden Bears as shots by Bryan Rotatori and Tyler Reilly were both saved in the closing seconds.
Ryan Hart led all scorers with six goals and seven points for Keene State, which led 9-6 at halftime and 13-9 after three quarters. Rob Hart added three goals and three assists, while Hunter Arnold had a game-best four assists and six points, and Tyler McKelvie recorded a hat trick. Tyler Reilly and Ryan Askham each added a goal.
Justin Bard scored a team-high five goals in his debut for the home team. Jon Bota, Garrett Mullins (1 assist), Keegan Dudeck (1 assist) and Dillon each scored two goals apiece for WNE, which trailed 13-9 after Rob Hart scored with 14 seconds to end the third quarter. But Western New England roared back in the decisive fourth frame by erupting for eight goals to complete the comeback.
The Owls raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening 2 minutes and 48 seconds on goals from Askham and Ryan Hart with two, controlling much of the possession after the first face-off.
Western New England, however, responded with a five-goal run that was keyed by two goals apiece from Bard and Dudeck. Bard's second tally in the run with just 4 seconds left in the first quarter handed the Golden Bears' their first lead at 4-3, and Dudeck's second opened the scoring 27 seconds into the second frame for 5-3.
McKelvie found the back of the net twice, including a man-down goal, to make it a 5-5 score before Dan McKenna scored, unassisted, to make it 6-5 WNE at the 9:36 mark. Just 46 seconds after McKenna's goal, Keene State reclaimed the lead by scoring the next five goals to take a 10-6 lead that was capped by Rob Hart at the 10:39 mark of the third stanza.
Keene State held the advantages in shots (56-52), ground balls (48-36), face-offs (19-17) and clears (13-for-16 to 17-for-22).
KSC netminder Dylan Florian and Brandon Body of WNE each made 20 saves.
The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but got postponed because of temperatures in the teens and was moved to this afternoon to AIC because of unplayable field conditions.
The Owls look to pick up their first win Saturday in their home opener against RPI, while the Golden Bears play Saturday night at Stevenson University.
(Parts of this recap courtesy of WNE sports information)
