Box Score KEENE, N.H. - Bryan Rotatori scored a game-high five goals to lead the Keene State College men's lacrosse team to a 23-12 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University in the championship game of the Little East Conference tournament on Saturday afternoon at Owl Athletic Complex.
It's the sixth tournament title for Keene State (12-4), who also won in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2014. NCAA selections will be announced Sunday night via a selection show at approximately 9:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.
These two teams have met in six consecutive championship games with Eastern seeking their 10th title in program history. Keene State and Eastern Connecticut (8-7) have won all but one lacrosse tournament title since the LEC began conesting a championship in 2001. The Owls' 23 goals today were the highest total scored in a LEC Championship gme.
Senior midfielder Ryan Hart was selected as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Hart totaled four goals, two assistns in today's game and added three goals, three assists in the semifinal round against Western Connecticut.
Tyler McKelvie, Tyler Reilly and Ryan Hart each scored four goals in the game, while Rob Hart added three tallies and two assists. Hunter Arnold finished with two goals and three helpers. Goalkeeper Dylan Florian made 14 saves in the win.
Chris Barnett and Liam Murphy each finished with three goals for the Warriors, while Dane Heckmann and Matthew Rougeout registered two scores. Blake Smaldone was kept busy all afternoon and registered 20 stops in the loss.
The Owls raced out to a 5-1 lead after the first quarter. Rotatori opened the scoring at 8:02 and Ryan Hart doubled the lead just 34 seconds later. Liam Murphy got the Warriors on the board with 5:55 to play in the period, only to have KSC respond with three more goals thanks to Reilly's two scores with 1:18 and eight seconds left on the clock.
Keene State continued to pour it on at the start of the second quarter, as Reilly, Rotatori and Hart found the back of the net as the Owls would outscore the Warriors 7-3 in the second.
Both teams exchanged goals to open the third and KSC would go on to outscore the Warriors 4-1 over the next 3:59 to take a 17-6 commanding lead. During that span, Ryan hart scored the 100th goal of his career. Eastern Connecticut would not go quietly as they closed out the quarter with three goals to come within 17-9.
KSC again opened the fourth quarter with two quick ones, only to be answered with two scores by the Warriors. McKelvie's score with 2:41 gave KSC their largest lead of the game at 23-12 and result in the final.
The first round of the NCAA Tournament take place on Wednesday, May 6 at a time and date to be announced.
