GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. (3/8/2025) – Senior attacker CJ Cadigan scored a career-high six goals, highlighting a list of five multi-goal performers for the Nichols College men's lacrosse team, earning them their first victory of the 2025 season over Gwynedd Mercy University, 17-10 on Saturday afternoon.

The Bison are now 1-4 overall on the season, while the Griffins fall to 1-6 with the loss.

Along with his career scoring, Cadigan also pitched in an assist for seven points, with three ground balls and two caused turnovers.  Conor Doherty scored four goals in the win, which was also a career-high for the junior, along with six ground balls. Dylan DeRubeis, John Caserta and Kane Williams each scored twice, while Williams dished out five helpers along the way. Jonah Libby rounded out the scoring with one goal in the win, as well as two assists.

The effort also had another player with a standout performance, as Travis Arnold finished a stellar 27-of-28 from the faceoff X, which also contributed to hauling in 20 ground balls, setting new program records for both categories. Senior goalkeeper Brady Morgan (1-4) made nine saves to backstop the win, additionally setting a program record for career wins, while defender Cooper Melvin played in his 72nd career game, also a new program record. 

The first quarter provided plenty of action for both sides, but neither gained a significant advantage over the other. Cadigan opened the scoring for Nichols at the 13:50 mark of the frame, potting his fourth of the season, ahead of a 3-0 Griffin run that placed the hosts in the lead, 3-1 with 5:00 left. Nichols countered with their own 3-0 streak, including a pair of man-up goals from Doherty and Williams to move back in front, 4-3, but the Griffins would add one more in the waning seconds to tie it up at 4-4 after one.

The second period was all Nichols, as they turned up the heat offensively to jump Gwynedd Mercy, 11-5 at the intermission. While the Griffins were only able to net one goal in the quarter, Doherty, Cadigan and DeRubeis each found the back of the net twice for Nichols, with Williams scoring the solo strike.

The Griffins cut into the Bison lead with a 3-1 scoring edge in the third, but failed to reduce the difference any further in the half. Heading into the fourth quarter, Nichols stormed away with the score, unleashing five consecutive goals to make it 17-9, ending with a man-up strike by Caserta from Cadigan. Despite adding one more goal at the 1:02 mark, the difference would prove insurmountable for the Griffins, ending in a 17-10 final.

The Bison return to action on Wednesday, March 12^th for the second game of their spring break trip against Marymount University (3-1). The teams are set for a 3:00 PM start at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, Virginia.