WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore Christian Paley and junior Owen Trepeta each netted hat tricks for the second time in as many games on Saturday to lead the Hartford men's lacrosse team to a 14-11 win over UMass Lowell on Al-Marzook Field. The Hawks (2-9) improve to 2-2 in the America East, while the River Hawks (4-7) dip to 1-2 in league action.
 


HARTFORD 14, UMASS LOWELL 11
 
Sophomore Justin Tkachuk scored 39 seconds after winning the opening faceoff to give the Hawks a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game. Leading, 3-2, at the end of the first, freshman Hunter Krauss and Trepeta went back-to-back to give Hartford a 5-2 lead, but the River Hawks answered by scoring three of the final four goals of the half to pull within one at the break at 6-5.
 
After the two teams exchanged scores to open the second half, Hartford rallied for a 4-1 run fueled by four different goal scorers to take its largest lead of the game — an 11-7 advantage — with 4:19 left in the third. The River Hawks would pull within three, but wouldn't come any closer as the Hawks held on for the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Tkachuk had a solid day inside the faceoff circle, going 15-for-26 with seven ground balls
• UMass Lowell's Liam McDonough, who entered the contest with the second-best faceoff winning percentage in the league, was held to a 9-for-21 effort
• Thompson compiled game-high six points, including four assists
• Freshman goalie Cam Logan compiled 10 saves for Hartford, while Grant Lardieri made 13 stops for the River Hawks in the losing effort
• Hartford outshot UMass Lowell, 44-40, and held a slight 31-30 edge in ground balls
• Holding the River Hawks to an 18-for-24 clip on clears, the Hawks registered seven caused turnovers on the afternoon
• Senior Alex Borja and sophomore Andre White also had multiple goals for Hartford, netting two apiece
• Domenic Giachello led all goal scorers with four for UMass Lowell

 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks step out of America East play for their next two games, beginning with a midweek tilt at Dartmouth on Tuesday. Opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. from Hanover, N.H.