WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Hartford men's lacrosse team defeated Gordon College on Saturday in West Hartford by a 13-3 final. 

• The Hawks defense was solid in the early going forcing two shock clock violations. Hartford finally got on the scoreboard as freshman Gavin Pelletier (Southington, Conn.) found freshman Shaun Wright (Frederick, Md.) for the score. The lead quickly jumped to 2-0 as sophomore Aidan Ezra (New Milford, Conn.) scored assisted by sophomore Maxton McPhee (Dudley, Mass.) after nine minutes of play. The Scots got on the board as Jackson Wright cut the lead in half. Sophomore Michael Novotny (Cornwall, N.Y.) answered with two seconds on the clock as Hartford held a 3-1 advantage headed into the second quarter. 
• Ezra found the back of the cage again to open scoring in the second after five minutes of no goals. Novotny quickly followed 90 seconds later on an assist by sophomore Ethan Hunt (Skaneateles, N.Y.). Hunt added a goal of his own as the lead extended to 6-1. McPhee and Novotny kept the Hawks flying as the lead jumped to 8-1 as we headed into halftime. 
• The defense stepped up to start the third quarter with keeper sophomore CJ Ledwick (Falmouth, Mass.) making a pair of saves. Sophomore Trent Beggs (Somers, Conn.) picked up his first collegiate goal beating the Scot keeper as the lead pushed to 9-1. Sophomore Nick Forgione (Denville, N.J.) added a goal with 2:38 to play in the third quarter on a rocket as Hartford hit double-digits headed into the fourth. 
• Pelletier and Ezra kicked off the fourth strong as the lead hit 12-1. Sophomore Mateo Montano (Morristown, N.J.) picked up the final Hawk goal as senior Griffin Weller (Canton, Conn.) added the assist. The Scots tallied two late goals to finish the scoring at 13-3. 

Post Game Press:
"We were priding ourselves on winning all our match ups today, whether it's on defense or offense", said sophomore Michael Novotny (Cornwall, N.Y.). "Our defense has stepped up huge in the last couple of games and we've been having their back as well. I think it's just a big team effort there."

"I think it was just a lot of playing together today", said sophomore Aidan Ezra (New Milford, Conn.). "We didn't have a great game last Wednesday but in the locker room we got fired up, came out here, and just played as a team which I think really helped. For our poles it's always just we have a ton of belief in our guys we're not sliding a lot today sliding a little bit to the shorties just really self belief in the team, we believe in this program so much, we all have an end goal of making it to a championship, we're all bought in."

Inside The Numbers:

• Novotny and Ezra each tallied a hat-trick, while Pelletier added a goal and two helpers. Hunt and McPhee eached added a goal and an assist. 
• Defensively junior Tobias Ballestar (Westwood, N.J.) led the way with a caused turnover and three grounders. 
• Sophomore Ben Costanzo (Chester, Conn.) went 10-15 from the face off dot. 
• Ledwick picked up his fifth win making five saves and allowing a single goal. Junior Cole Zering (New Fairfield, Conn.) made two saves in 12:30 of game action. 

Up Next:
The Hawks will travel to Dudley, Mass. to take on Nichols College on Wednesday with a 8:00 PM start.

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