BOX SCORE
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Hartford lacrosse team dropped a 20-10 decision to 17th-ranked University of Massachusetts in the Hawks' season opener on Saturday afternoon.
Massachusetts (2-0 overall) got out to a quick lead behind five unanswered goals in the opening seven minutes of the game and never looked back. Ryan Hantverk led the Minutemen with six points including four goals and a pair of assists while Bobby Hayes chipped in with three goals and two assists. In his collegiate debut, Jared Franze netted four goals off the bench to lead Hartford (1-0 overall). Junior Justin Bearse also tallied four points including a pair of goals and two assists.
Hantverk got the Minutemen going with his third goal of the 2010 campaign just two minutes into the contest. Massachusetts followed with four more tallies until Franze connected on a feed by Bearse to put the Hawks on the scoreboard with 4:34 to play in the first quarter.
The Hawks followed with their second goal nearly 40 seconds later as Ryan Compitello fed Bearse to cut the deficit to 5-2. Massachusetts however closed out the quarter with three-straight goals to increase its lead to 8-2.
Following a Minutemen score to start the second quarter, the Hawks got as close as 9-4 as sophomore Martin Bowes and Franze netted back-to-back goals within the opening five minutes. Franze found the back of the net, completing his first collegiate hat-trick, nine minutes into the quarter however Massachusetts responded with one of its own, boosting the score to 11-5 in favor of the home team. Following two straight Hartford scores by Bearse and sophomore Aidan Genik, the Minutemen scored two of their own and entered the halftime break with a commanding 13-7 lead.
The Hawks saw the scoreboard light up first in the second half as sophomore Ryan Compitello found the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Massachusetts, however, responded with four straight goals – two of which were scored by Hayes – to put the game out of reach
Sophomore goalie Scott Bement played 45 minutes and recorded 11 saves. Freshman Frank Piechota took over in goal for the final quarter and made one stop in his collegiate debut. The Hawks won the battle at the face-off X as junior Tim Fallon went 18-for-33. Fallon also finished with a game-best 12 ground balls.
Massachusetts outshot the Hawks 41-30 and caused 15 turnovers. Goalie Tim McCormack made six saves and played all but the final 9:38 of the game for the Minutemen.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday, February 27 when they welcome the Delaware Blue Hens to Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium in their home opener. Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m.
