KEENE, N.H. -- Senior Joe Nutting led Keene State College men's lacrosse with five goals and one assist to an 18-7 victory in a non-conference matchup against Rivier University at the Owl Athletic Complex Saturday afternoon.  A total of seven different Owls found the back of the net for the men's lacrosse team for a third straight win. 

Records 

• Keene State: 3-1 
• Rivier: 0-1 

How It Happened 

The Owls came out fired up, scoring five unanswered goals in the first quarter.  Junior Nathan Sickles scored the first goal for Keene State six minutes into the game.  Nutting netted his first goal of the game assisted by Cooper Cioffi with 7:03 to go.  Minutes later, Nutting found the back of the net again. Junior Michael Sheridan took full advantage of a man-up situation, scoring his first career goal assisted by Sickles. Sophomore Colby Quiet completed the scoring in the first quarter with an unassisted goal, with the Owls leading 5-0. 

Keene State continued their attack as Quiet netted another goal just 53 seconds into the second period. Ben Wright scored his first collegiate goal assisted by Quiet with 12:51 to go. Sickles tallied back-to-back unassisted goals followed by Cioffi's first goal of the game assisted by Haeden Finerty.  The Owls resumed their offensive pressure on Rivier goalkeeper Sawyer Gagnon with goals scored by Andrew Miller and Quiet. The Raiders tallied their first goal scored by Connor Eck with less than two minutes to go in the second quarter.  Cioffi answered with a goal assisted by Nutting, putting the Owls ahead by 13.  Rivier completed the scoring in the second quarter with a goal by Chris Heitmiller. Keene State goalkeeper Chase Chamberlin made four saves as the Owls led 14-2 at the half. 

Nutting opened the scoring with a man-up advantage in the third quarter.  Sickles netted his fourth goal of the game with 2:43 left in the period.  The Raiders answered with a goal by Coby Mercier to conclude the scoring in the third. The Owls held the 16-3 lead heading into the final period.  Baylor Bridges played the third quarter and made two saves for Keene State. 

The Raiders found some momentum in the fourth quarter, putting three goals past Owls goalkeeper Charlie Giuliotti.  Cioffi netted his third goal of the game with a man-up and 8:00 to go.  Jeffrey Potter found the back of the net for Rivier's final goal.  Nutting concluded the scoring for the Owls with an assist by Miller, leading the Raiders 18-7. 

Inside the Crease 

• The Owls outshot the Raiders 48-23 in their inaugural meeting. 
• Nathan Sickles netted four goals past Rivier, putting him at ten goals this season. 
•  Joe Nutting led the scoring with five goals. 
• Haeden Finerty scooped up six ground balls for the Owls. 

Up Next  

• The Owls travel to Davenport, Florida to take on the Clarkson Golden Knights at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15 for some non-conference action. 
• The Raiders host Castleton University back at home on March 9.