BEVERLY, Mass. – The Nichols College men's lacrosse team fell to conference opponent Endicott, 22-8, on Tuesday evening at Hempstead Stadium.
With the loss, the Bison move to 7-8 overall and 3-4 in conference play, while the Gulls improve to 11-3 overall and remain unbeaten in league action at 7-0.
Nichols was led offensively by
Jonah Libby,
Jack Campbell, and
Juan Morales, who each recorded two goals, with Libby and Campbell also adding an assist apiece.
Jared Van Cor and
Kane Williams each added a goal, while
Carter Renaud, Joey Lachance, and
Shea Ullo each contributed an assist to round out the scoring.
Endicott came out firing in the opening quarter, using a relentless offensive pace to score 10 goals on 23 shots. The Gulls capitalized on early possessions and extra-man opportunities to quickly build separation. Despite multiple saves from Renaud and several defensive stops, Nichols struggled to clear consistently and limit second-chance looks. Libby broke through midway through the period with an unassisted goal, but Endicott responded with continued pressure to take a commanding 10-1 lead after one.
In the second quarter, Nichols began to settle in and generate more offensive opportunities. The Bison created several quality looks early, forcing saves from the Endicott goalkeeper and winning ground balls to extend possessions. Campbell converted at the 11:59 mark off a feed from Libby to cut into the deficit. However, Endicott remained efficient on the offensive end, capitalizing on turnovers and adding two more goals to carry a 12-2 advantage into halftime.
The Gulls maintained control coming out of the break, continuing their offensive momentum in the third quarter. Endicott scored six unanswered goals, including multiple strikes during man-up situations, while limiting Nichols' chances on the other end. The Bison generated shots but struggled to find the back of the net against a disciplined defensive unit, as Endicott extended its lead to 18-2 heading into the final frame.
Nichols showed resilience in the fourth quarter, putting together its strongest stretch of the game with six goals. Williams opened the scoring with a man-down goal, sparking momentum for the Bison. Van Cor followed with his first of the game, and Campbell added another to continue the run. Libby converted on a man-up opportunity, while Morales netted two goals late, including one off a feed from Lachance. Despite the offensive surge, Endicott continued to respond and maintain control, ultimately securing the 22-8 victory.
The Bison will remain on the road this week, traveling to Boston to take on Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday, April 18th at 6:00 PM at Sweeney Field.
