SPARKS, MD. – The Nichols College men's lacrosse team held off the Alfred University Saxons, 14–12, in a neutral-site matchup at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md., during the Bison's spring break trip.

With the win the Bison elevate to 3-2 (0-0 CNE) while the Saxons drop 2-3 (0-0 E8)

The Bison offense was led by senior midfielder John Caserta, who recorded a team-high four goals and one assist, tying his career-high in goals while adding five ground balls, another personal best, to pace the Nichols attack. Senior midfielder Conor Doherty matched the scoring output with four goals and one assist of his own, giving the Bison a powerful one-two punch offensively. Sophomore midfielder Jackson Hernandez also contributed to the scoring effort with two goals and two ground balls as multiple Bison found the back of the net in the win.

Junior Shea Ullo and senior Jonah Libby helped facilitate the offense, each dishing out two assists, with Ullo adding one ground ball and Libby collecting two.

At the faceoff X, Travis Arnold led the effort for Nichols, winning 13 of 26 faceoffs while also picking up three ground balls. Senior Goalkeeper Carter Renaud recorded 16 saves in the win after facing 45 shots.

Hernandez was the first to break the silence, opening the scoring less than two minutes into the game with an assist from Cole Goudreau. The Bison kept the momentum going shortly after, adding another goal as John Caserta netted the first of his four on the day off a pass from Shea Ullo. Nichols struck once more at the ten-minute mark when Conor Doherty found the back of the net to extend the early lead. Alfred quickly responded, scoring three goals within a two-minute span to keep the contest tight and prevent either team from gaining a clear advantage. Before the horn sounded to end the quarter, Nichols slipped one more past the Saxons as Ullo finished a feed from Doherty, giving the Bison a 4–3 lead after the first.

Unlike the opening period, both teams were held scoreless for the first five minutes of the second quarter until Alfred broke through, tying the game 4–4 at the 10:16 mark. Nichols responded quickly out of a timeout, with Doherty restoring the lead for the Bison. The Saxons answered once more just four minutes later, sending the teams into halftime deadlocked at 5–5.

Nichols came out of the break determined to seize control, striking twice to open the half with goals from Kane Williams and Caserta, his second of the afternoon. Alfred attempted to shift the momentum with a goal at the 10:05 mark, but the Bison answered right back as Caserta buried another to maintain the lead. Nichols added two more in the period, including Doherty's third goal of the game and a man-up strike from Tyler Olivo, assisted by Caserta, capitalizing on a Saxons green card to build momentum heading into the final quarter 10-9. 

Hernandez opened the fourth and final quarter with his second goal of the afternoon, mirroring the start of the first period and helping the Bison settle firmly into the driver's seat for the remainder of the game. The Saxons continued to push, quickly responding and keeping the back-and-forth battle alive. Nichols, however, maintained control of the lead, answering every Alfred goal with one of their own. The Bison found scoring success from Libby and Caserta, before Doherty sealed the game with a goal in the final four minutes to secure the 14–12 victory. The Nichols defense held firm down the stretch, limiting Alfred's opportunities until the final minute.

The Bison will continue their Spring Break trip as they travel to Virginia Beach to face Virginia Wesleyan University at Birdsong Field on Thursday, March 12 at 1:00 PM.