Men’s Lacrosse jumps out early, cruises to 16-4 win over Eastern Nazarene

By OWEN BROWN

North Adams, MA— MCLA would score the first nine goals today cruising to a 16-4 nonconference win over Eastern Nazarene College in men's lacrosse action this afternoon at Shewcraft Field. With the victory, the Trailblazers improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Lions fall to 0-2.

After an early unassisted goal by MCLA's Matthew Wallace, both sides settled in for what looked like it would be a tight competitive affair. But the Trailblazers would close the first quarter scoring three goals in less than two minutes putting the home team up 4-0 after one.

Just over five minutes into the second, Boden Dock and last week's NAC Player of the Week Nathan Haley would score less than thirty seconds apart to push the MCLA lead to 6-0.

DeClan McEachen and Michael Stowe would each score their first career goals in the final minute of the half before Eastern Nazarene's Jamar Griggs' last second goal finally put the Lions on the board making it 9-1 at the intermission.

The Lions would ride the momentum of the Griggs goal scoring the next two cutting the MCLA lead to 9-3 with 8:33 left in the third quarter. The Trailblazers however would take full advantage of two costly Eastern Nazarene penalties scoring 3 man-up goals to close the quarter and stretch the lead to 12-3.

Another cluster of MCLA goals just :49 seconds apart to start the fourth quarter, this time by Haley, Chad Trottier and Dock, would ice the game for the Trailblazers who walked away with the 16-4 win.

MCLA was led by Haley with four goals and an assist. Dock would finish with a hat-trick while Wallace, McEachen and Johnny Hebert each scored twice. Eastern Nazarene's Jamar Griggs led the Lions scoring three times.

Trailblazer goalie John Hankel made 11 saves and improves to 2-1. Lions goaltender Walter Lockwell would save 13 shots in the losing effort falling to 0-2.

MCLA would hold a decisive advantage in groundballs (44-30) and shots (45-31).

Both teams will next be in action this Saturday as Eastern Nazarene hosts SUNY Conleskill at 2pm and the Trailblazers travel to Mt. St. Vincent for a 4pm face-off.