BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University men's lacrosse team outscored Wentworth Institute of Technology by a 12-5 margin over the final 30 minutes – including 8-3 in the fourth quarter – to take an 18-10 win in an opening round contest of the 2015 Commonwealth Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse Tournament.
The third-seeded Hawks (13-4) will travel to second-seeded Western New England on Wednesday night while the sixth-seeded Leopards stand at 9-8 and await a possible bid to the ECAC Tournament.
Both teams opened up trading man-up goals, beginning with a score by RWU's Nick Gagnon (Milton, Mass.), followed by an answer from Wentworth's Ryan Coakley (Flemington, N.J.). Eddie Hill (Portland, Maine) regained the lead for RWU on a goal from Mike Hanna (Somers, Conn.), but the Leopards came back with three straight scores from Michael Cushera (Waltham, Mass.), Alec Paradis (Pelham, N.H.), and Nick Parent (Windham, N.H.).
Roger Williams would then hold Wentworth without a score for the final four minutes of the first quarter and the first 13 minute of the second quarter. Over that stretch, RWU notched four goals by Will Siefert (Duxbury, Mass.), Doug Brown (New York, N.Y.), Hanna, and AJ Core (Syosset, N.Y.). Cushera ended the Hawk run with the final goal of the half, bringing the Leopards within one (6-5).
In the third quarter, Siefert scored three of Roger Williams' four goals in the period, with Caleb Kenney (Duxbury, Mass.) adding the additional score. Cushera and Kevin Butler (Jefferson, Mass.) tallied scores in the period to aid the Leopard cause, but the Hawks ultimately took a three-goal advantage into the final quarter (10-7).
Roger Williams pulled away early on in the period, scoring three times in the first three minutes to double their lead. Wentworth grabbed two goals to pull back within four, but the Hawks came back with four straight goals to pull away for good.
Luke Aubrey (Norwalk, Conn.) had 11 saves for Roger Williams in the win. Siefert led the way for RWU, tying a season high with six goals. Gagnon added five points on a goal and four assists, with Eric Valenti (North Reading, Mass.) going for a goal and two assists.
Cushera and Ryan Coakley both had three goals and an assist while sophomore Mike Coakley (Flemington, N.J.) had a goal and three assists. Paradis had seven ground balls, freshman Jake Ollila (Goffstown, N.H.) had four caused turnovers, and freshman Adam Dufault (Lexington, Mass.) made 13 stops.
