THE BASICS:

-Score: Assumption 9, Franklin Pierce 11

-Records: Assumption (2-6, 2-3 NE-10); Franklin Pierce (4-4, 3-3 NE-10)

-Location: Rindge, N.H. (Sudexo Field)

-The Lead: After falling behind by a score of 8-0 in the first half, the Assumption College men's lacrosse team nearly rallied to victory against Franklin Pierce on Wednesday evening, outscoring the Ravens 9-3 in the second half for an 11-9 final.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-The Ravens racked up eight unanswered goals in the first half posting four goals in both the first and second quarters before the Hounds began a comeback in the third.

-Assumption came out of the break with the squad's first goal of the game, scored by freshman Travis Reid (Raynham, Mass. / Bridgewater Raynham) and assisted by sophomore Dan Matisoff (Milton, Mass. / Milton) with 8:15 left in the quarter. 

-Franklin Pierce responded just 11 seconds later to make it 9-1 before the Hounds went on a 4-0 scoring run.

-Reid scored again with 6:27 on the clock for a man-up goal and notched a hat trick when he scored again exactly five minutes later to make it 9-3 Ravens.

-Just 32 seconds before the conclusion of the third quarter, sophomore Patrick O'Brien (Oyster Bay, N.Y. / St. Dominic) added the Hounds' fourth goal to make it 9-4 FPU. 

-Reid scored once again with 12:08 on the clock in the fourth to bring the Hounds within reach, 9-5, assisted by freshman Dan Farrell (Norwood, Mass. / Norwood).

-Franklin Pierce followed to make it 10-5 with 9:12 left to play but junior TJ McNicholas (Newton, Mass. / Newton North) found the back of the net to make it 10-6.

-The Ravens scored just once more to make it 11-6 before the Hounds rallied in the final 2:18 to nearly tie the game.

-Assumption notched three consecutive man-up goals within the last 2:18 for the 11-9 final. Sophomore Patrick Ward (Canton, Mass. / Kents Hill School) scored twice at 2:18 and 1:06 while Farrell closed with the final score with just 29 seconds left in regulation. 

-Senior Connor Munisteri (Setauket, N.Y. / Ward Melville) assisted all three of Assumption's three goals in the final minutes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-Reid led the Hounds with four goals on just four shots on goal to go along with three ground balls and one caused turnover.

-Also tallying four points on the day was Munisteri who notched four assists.

-Overall, the Ravens outshot the Hounds 38-26 while collecting 27 ground balls to Assumption's 30. 

-The Hounds also claimed the advantage in faceoffs with senior Nick Guarino (Avon, Conn. / Avon) taking 15-of-24.

-Assumption was 4-for-6 on man-up opportunities compared to 2-for-4 for Franklin Pierce.

-Assumption finished the game 15-of-19 in clear attempts compared to just 18-of-22 for FPU.

-Freshman John Demott (Syracuse, N.Y. / Corcoran) takes the loss for the Hounds and slips to 1-3 on the season after allowing eight goals in 30 minutes. Demott, who also registered five saves, was relieved by freshman Colby Hamwey (West Yarmouth, Mass. / Wilbraham Monson Academy) in the second half who posted seven saves and allowed just three goals in his 30 minutes in net.

-Connor Wacksman claims the win for Franklin Pierce and improves to 4-3 on the season with eight saves in 57:14.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:

-Reid scored the Hounds' first three goals of the game and added one more for his fourth career hat trick. 

-Four goals ties Reid's game-high, which he has done twice more this season including in the Hounds season opener against Molloy and Assumption's 19-5 victory over AIC.

-The game marks the third time this season that Munisteri has notched four assists in a game. Prior to this season his game-high was one. 

-Munisteri is now ranked fourth in the Northeast-10 Conference in assists with 16.

-Both Demott and Hamwey rank among the league's top five goaltenders. Hamwey is currently ranked third in save percentage (56.3) and in goals against (45). Demott is also tied for third with Hamwey with 45 goals against.  

UP NEXT:

-The Hounds return to action on Saturday, April 9 for a home contest against Saint Michael's at 4 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED:

-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240. 

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