THE BASICS
Score: Emerson 12, Springfield 10
Records: Emerson Lions, (6-5, NEWMAC 1-1); Springfield Pride (0-7, NEWMAC 0-2)
Location: Rotch Field; Boston, Mass.
Date: March 23, 2024

THE LEAD
A 5-goal 3rd quarter propelled the Lions men's lacrosse team to a win in a hard-fought conference matchup against the visiting Springfield Pride. Emerson is currently tied with MIT for 3rd place in the NEWMAC standings.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
EMERSON
- Malcolm McGrath (W, 6-4): 16 saves, 10 GA
- Nicholas Fulgione: 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists)
- Alex Menendez: 3 points (2 goals, assist)
- Birk Swan: 2 points (goal, assist)
- 5 others scored for Emerson

SPRINGFIELD
- Kaden Quirk (L, 0-7): 6 saves, 12 GA
- Jake Degnan: 3 points (3 goals)
- Kevin Tierney: 3 points (2 goals, assist)
- Matt Webb: 2 points (2 goals)
- 3 others scored for Springfield

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Springfield got off to a 2-0 lead in the 1st quarter with goals by Matt Webb (14:24) and Aaron Murakami (9:33, assisted by Kevin Tierney). Emerson would tie it up with goals by Jared Valluzzi (6:15, assisted by Nicholas Fulhione) and Grant Wilson (4:22). The Pride would end the quarter 3-2 thanks to a goal by Mason Nocito (2:48).
- Springfield would open up the scoring in the 2nd quarter as well, going up 5-2 with goals by Gabe Sperlonga (8:45) and Tierney (8:32, assisted by Nocito), while the Lions would cut into the lead with goals scored by Fulgione (8:11) and Birk Swan (5:30, assisted by Fulgione). The Pride would score one more before the quarter ended thanks to Tierney (1:57, assisted by Sperlonga), but Emerson would get one for themselves in the final seconds of the half as Fulgione (0:54, assisted by Alex Menendez) would record his second of the game to make the score 6-5.
- As with the first two quarters, Springfield scored two goals to open up the 3rd quarter as Jake Degnan (13:03, assisted by Jackson Lane; 10:35) was credited with a pair. However, the Lions took control quickly as they scored five unanswered goals to pull ahead 10-8 by the end the half. Two came from Fulgione (7:38; 1:39, assisted by Pierce Eldredge); two came from Menendez (9:22, assisted by Fulgione; 0:18, assisted by Swan); and one came from Jack Burns (4:21).
- The Pride would narrow the deficit to 10-9 at the start of the 4th quarter thanks to Degnan's (9:31) third goal of the game. Emerson would get one back thanks to Aedan Kiniry (6:43), and then Jack O'Rourke (4:55) scored to put the Lions up 12-9. Springfield's Matt Webb (1:19) scored the final goal of the game in the closing minutes as Emerson held on to get the win.

NEXT UP
Men's lacrosse continues their NEWMAC schedule at home against Salve Regina next Friday, March 29th at 7:00 p.m.