SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Freshman Joe O'Keefe (Branford, CT) led eight players scoring points with four goals and an assist as the No. 13 Western New England College men's lacrosse posted a 13-6 victory over visiting Gordon College Wednesday afternoon (March 26). The Golden Bears ended a two-game losing streak and improved their record to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).

Senior Mike Kelly (Cheshire, CT) continued his fine play with three goals and an assist while junior Brody Savoie (Wilbraham, MA) tallied a pair of goals with an assist. Junior Scott Kukis (Sudbury, MA) also netted two goals. Senior Jon Hayes (Waltham, MA) netted a goal and handed out two assists. Senior Travis Brown (Chapel Hill, NC) reached the scoring column as well. Senior Chris Body (Newtown, CT) had a solid performance in the net recording 12 saves. Sophomore Nick Zalesky (Somers, CT) totaled five ground balls.

Gordon took a 1-0 lead when freshman Dan Utz (Rochester, NY) scored just 1:54 into the contest. WNEC answered with three straight goals before junior Drew Straton (Carmel, IN) closed the margin to 3-2 after the opening period. Western New England College scored three consecutive times to begin the second quarter and took an 8-3 lead at half-time. Brown's goal gave the Golden Bears a 10-3 margin at the 4:48 mark of the third period.

Straton finished with three goals for the Fighting Scots while freshman Jordan MacIntosh (Oakville, OH) contributed a goal and assist. Freshman goalie Brett Becker (Sparta, NJ) stopped 16 shots while freshman Dan Castelline (Concord, MA) had seven ground balls and junior AJ Benson (Reheboth, DE) five. Gordon is now 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Gordon (2-4)  2   1   2   1   -   6         
WNEC (3-2)    3   5   2   3   -  13

Gordon College Fighting Scots
Goals – Drew Straton 3, Andrew Kirkaldy, Jordan Macintosh, Dan Utz
Assists – Dan Castelline, Jordan Macintosh, Jake Patterson
Saves – Brett Becker 16

Western New England College Golden Bears
Goals – Joe O'Keefe 4, Mike Kelly 3, Scott Kukis 2, Brody Savoie 2, Travis Brown, Jon Hayes
Assists – Bryan Cofrin 2, Jon Hayes 2, Mike Kelly, Matt McAnney, Brody Savoie
Saves – Chris Body 12

2008-03-26