Manchester, N.H. (March 23) -- Despite a four-goal effort from sophomore Garrett Smith (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse Minoa), the Assumption College men's lacrosse team dropped an 8-7 final to Saint Anselm on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium. Saint Anselm is receiving votes in this week's USILA Division II National Poll.

Saint Anselm jumped on top early with a pair of goals within 46 seconds of each other for the 2-0 edge just 2:48 into the first. Andy Budz scored on an unassisted tally, while Jake Mallinson scored from 15 yards out to make it a 2-0 margin. The Hawks extended that lead to 3-0 with 5:21 left in the opening quarter as Geoff Kennedy scored from the right of the net for his fourth goal of the season. Assumption answered though with 1:25 left in the period as Peter Gersbeck (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) cut towards the net before throwing it back out to Seamus Kennedy (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow), who tallied his first career goal to cut the lead down to 3-1 after one quarter.

Assumption cut the lead down to 3-2 with 10:20 left in the second as junior Ian Mack (Avon, Conn./Avon) found Smith cutting towards the net for a man-up goal. The two teams traded goals over the next 10 minutes as Andrew Messner scored for the Hawks, along with the fourth goal of the season for Assumption sophomore Ty Martina (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield). Saint Anselm forced an Assumption turnover with 23 seconds left in first half and called timeout, but were unable to convert the chance as the Assumption defense forced a turnover of its own to send the game into the half at 4-3 in favor of the Hawks.

Assumption tied the game just 2:13 into the third quarter as Mack faked a shot low and instead went high for his third goal of the season and the 4-4 score. After a Messner goal from 15 yards out put the Hawks back in front 5-4 just 3:45 into the period, Smith tallied his second goal of the game off a quick pass from sophomore Tim Casey (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) to tie things at 5-5 with 5:31 left in the third. The Hounds controlled play over the final two minutes of the half, but were unable to find the back of the net as the teams headed into the fourth tied at 5-5.

Saint Anselm opened the fourth-quarter scoring with 12:18 remaining as Ryan Mee found the upper left hand corner of the net for his seventh goal of the year to put the Hawks back on top 6-5. Smith completed the hat trick with 10:31 remaining as he ripped a shot from the left off a pass from Mack to tie the game at 6-6. Just 13 seconds later, Ben Warren gave the Hawks the lead for good on a low shot for his second goal of the season and a 7-6 lead. James Peters added his first goal of the game and the eventual game-winner with 8:06 remaining and Saint Anselm led by an 8-6 margin entering the final five minutes of the fourth.

With 4:20 remaining, Smith came off a screen in front of the net following a pass from Mack for his fourth goal of the game and ninth of the season to cut the lead down to just 8-7. Saint Anselm maintained possession over the final minutes of the game though as the Hounds dropped the one-goal final.

Mack posted four points on one goal and three assists to go along with four ground balls, while Smith finished with four goals on six shots on goal. Messner led Saint Anselm with three points on two goals and one assist.

Sophomore goalie Will Contento (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) made seven saves in the loss, while Saint Anselm netminder Jonathon O'Reilly picked up the win with an 11-save performance.

With the loss, Assumption falls to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in Northeast-10 play, while Saint Anselm improves to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Tuesday, March 26th as the Hounds host Franklin Pierce University for a 7 p.m. start at the Multi-Sport Stadium.

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