BOX SCORE
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Despite building a 7-5 lead at the halftime break, the University of Hartford men's lacrosse team could not hold off the No. 16/17 Massachusetts Minutemen on Saturday as it fell by a 14-10 final in its season opener on a blustery and windy Al-Marzook Field. Massachusetts is now 2-0 on the season while Hartford, which remains winless against the Minutemen at 0-9, drops to 0-1.
Junior attackmen Ryan Compitello and Aidan Genik led the Hawks' offense, each netting a pair of goals with an assist for three points. Eight total Hawks found the back of the net, including newcomer Tate Klidonas who launched his first career goal in the contest.
Facing an early 2-0 deficit out of the opening face-off, Hartford reeled off four-straight goals in the span of 2:12 to take a 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. Senior Vinny Pellizzi sparked the streak with his unassisted score at the 5:37 mark, while Klidonas delivered the game-tying tally.
The Hawks extended its lead to 5-2 in the second quarter when Compitello shoveled in a bounce pass from classmate Genik however two-straight scores from Ryan Hantverk ended the home team's 5-0 run. Hartford regained its three-goal lead on goals by sophomores Jared Franze and Rory Nunamacher before Art Kell scored the final goal of the half, bringing Massachusetts to within two at intermission.
Massachusetts came out on fire in the third quarter, winning the battle of possessions and outscoring the Hawks 6-1 to take an 11-8 lead after the period.
Massachusetts netted two goals out of the halftime break to deadlock the game for the first time since the 4:43 mark of the opening quarter. The Hawks struck back as Compitello and Klidonas teamed up, capitalizing on their second man-up opportunity to regain the lead however Art Kell's first of three assists to Will Manny leveled the score once again. Ryan Hantverk put the visitors ahead for good at 9-8 with 7:06 to play in that period.
The Hawks opened the fourth with a Carter Bender goal just 39 seconds into the period however Massachusetts iced the game, outscoring the Hawks, 3-1, in the final 11:52 of the contest.
Manny finished the game with five points on four goals and one assist while Kell had a hand in eight of the squad's 14 goals, netting two of his own while dishing out six assists. In goal, Tim McCormack turned away eight shots for the Minutemen while sophomore Frank Piechota tallied six saves in his first collegiate start.
Hartford finished on top in the battle for possessions, winning 16-of-28 duels, led by senior Tim Fallon (16-27). The midfielder also collected a game-high 12 ground balls. The Minutemen dominated the decisive third quarter as they outshot the Hawks, 10-5, and went 7-of-8 at the face-off X.
Hartford returns to action on Saturday, March 26 when it travels to Holy Cross. Opening face-off between the Hawks and Crusaders is slated for 4:00 p.m.
