SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore Nick Gamba's goal with 3:38 remaining in regulation snapped a 9-all tie as the Western New England University men's lacrosse team edged Wentworth Institute of Technology, 11-9, Wednesday night at Golden Bear Stadium.
With the win the Golden Bears improve to 6-5 overall and 3-0 in Commonwealth Coast Conference play while the Leopards fall to 6-4 (1-3).
Gamba helped stake the hosts to a 3-0 lead in the first 3:04 of the contest as he factored into two of Western New England's goals (one goal, one assist). Wentworth pulled within a goal with 57 seconds left in the frame, thanks to goals from senior Kevin Butler (Jefferson, Mass.) and sophomore Kyle Doner (Lindenhurst, N.Y.). A junior Jared Ward (Littleton, Mass.) goal with five ticks left gave the Golden Bears a 4-2 lead after the first 15:00 of play.
A minute and 41 seconds into the second quarter, Butler scored from freshman Ben Coakley (Flemington, N.J.) to pull the Leopards within one, and, with 6:46 left, junior Zach Tomaszek (Milford, Conn.) evened the score at 5-all. The teams went back and forth, trading goals until a goal from Ward with 10:22 left in the third and a freshman Conner Cronin (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) marker less than six minutes later put Western New England ahead, 8-6. Butler scored with 3:05 remaining to make it 8-7 before Gamba gave the Golden Bears a 9-7 lead with his goal with 1:31 left in the quarter.
Junior Jacob Eldred (Goffstown, N.H.) brought the Leopards within one with a goal 2:42 into the final stanza and freshman Jack O'Neill (Groton, Mass.) tied the game for the four the fourth time as he scored with 4:52 to play.
Just over a minute later, Cronin set up Gamba for the eventual game winner. Wentworth had a chance to tie the game when junior Peter Andersson (Madison, N.J.) caused a turnover with 2:36 left, giving the Leopards the ball back. Nearly 40 seconds later, the Black & Gold turned the ball over. Western New England took a shot and kept possession before Ward picked up a ground ball with 36 seconds left and scored an insurance marker two seconds later.
Gamba and Ward each finished with three goals and an assist in the win while senior Nichols Beauchamp (Wilbraham, Mass.) had three goals. Junior Hunter Cocks (Walden, N.Y.) went 19-of-23 at the X and scooped up 16 ground balls.
Butler led the Leopards with four goals while Doner found the back of the net twice and Coakley had two assists. Senior Jake Ollila (Goffstown, N.H.) and junior Killian Ryan (Saranac Lake, N.Y.) scooped up three ground balls apiece while Andersson caused three turnovers.
Senior Stephen Kerr (Hopkinton, Mass.) made nine saves in the win while and senior Scott Boucher (Salisbury, N.H.) had 11 saves in the loss for the Black & Gold. Western New England had advantages in shots (36-28) and ground balls (38-20) while also successfully clearing on 14-of-14 attempts.
Wentworth hosts Salve Regina on Tuesday night.
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