Colchester, Vt. (March 30) -- On a chilly Saturday afternoon, the Assumption College men's lacrosse team dropped a 16-7 final to Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference play. The Purple Knights are receiving votes in this week's USILA Division II National Poll.

Saint Michael's took control in the first quarter as the Purple Knights held a 7-1 lead after one period of play. Sophomore Garrett Smith (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse Minoa) had the lone Assumption goal of the quarter, scoring his 16th of the season and 44th of his career. The Purple Knights kept the pressure up and eventually led by a 12-1 margin with 12:56 remaining in the third quarter.

Assumption controlled the rest of the third though as the Hounds scored four unanswered goals over the last 8:23 of the quarter to cut the score to 12-5 after three. Senior Casey Marren (Derby, Conn./Notre Dame) led the offense with two goals in the period, including a man-up score. Sophomore Peter Gersbeck (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) also converted on an extra-man opportunity in the quarter as the Hounds were 2-for-10 on the day with a man up.

Saint Michael's regained a double-digit lead in the final period before Marren capped off the hat trick with a goal with 2:04 remaining to account for the 16-7 final.

Marren led the offense with the three-goal effort, along with a pair of assists from junior Ian Mack (Avon, Conn./Avon). Four Purple Knights finished with multiple goals, including four-goal efforts from both Max Zuccarini and Marty Vanzo. Zuccarini added three assists as well, along with two helpers from Vanzo.

Sophomore Will Contento (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) made 14 saves in the loss and had a team-high six ground balls, while Saint Michael's goalies Chris DeMairo and Andrew Landers combined to turned aside eight shots in the win.

With the loss, Assumption falls to 0-7 overall and 0-5 in Northeast-10 play, while the Purple Knights improve to 4-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Saturday, April 6th as the Hounds host American International for a 1 p.m. start at the Multi-Sport Stadium.

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