BOSTON, Mass.– The Nichols College men's lacrosse team came up just short in a back-and-forth conference battle, falling to the Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology, 15-12, on Saturday afternoon at Sweeney Field.
With the loss, the Bison fall to 7-9 overall (3-5 CNE), while the Leopards improve to 8-6 overall (4-4 CNE).
Nichols saw a balanced offensive effort, led by
John Caserta and
Jack Campbell, who each produced three goals.
Jonah Libby added two goals and an assist, while
Tyler Olivo and
Conor Doherty each recorded a goal and an assist.
Max Leavitt and
Shea Ullo also found the back of the net for the Bison. At the faceoff X,
Travis Arnold was dominant, winning 17 of 28 draws and scooping up a game-high 12 ground balls. Defensively, goalkeeper
Carter Renaud kept Nichols within striking distance all afternoon, making 15 saves on 30 shots faced.
The game opened at a relentless pace, with both teams trading momentum early. Olivo struck first for Nichols off a sharp feed from Doherty, but Wentworth quickly answered with back-to-back goals to take the lead. The Bison responded with composure, as Campbell found the back of the net twice—once at even strength and once on the man-up—to regain control. Libby and Leavitt added key goals during a critical stretch, helping Nichols build a 6-4 advantage late in the first quarter. Even as the Leopards managed a late goal to cut the deficit, the Bison carried a 6-5 lead into the second, fueled by strong faceoff play and efficient offense.
The second quarter tightened into a defensive battle, with both teams trading possessions and testing each other's discipline. Wentworth found an early equalizer, but Ullo responded midway through the quarter to give Nichols a 7-6 edge. From there, momentum began to shift. The Leopards capitalized on extra-man opportunities and controlled key possessions down the stretch, scoring twice in the final minutes. Despite several strong saves from Renaud to keep the game within reach, Nichols entered halftime trailing 8-7 in what had become a razor-thin contest.
Coming out of the break, Wentworth seized control with its most decisive stretch of the game. The Leopards opened the third quarter on a three-goal run, taking advantage of turnovers and extended offensive possessions to build an 11-7 lead. Nichols struggled to find rhythm offensively during the stretch but continued to battle defensively behind Renaud. Late in the quarter, Libby delivered a much-needed goal to stop the run and give the Bison life heading into the fourth, cutting the deficit to 11-8.
In the final frame, Nichols mounted a determined comeback effort. Caserta sparked the rally with back-to-back goals, bringing the Bison within striking distance, and Campbell added another to make it a four-goal game with momentum beginning to swing. Each time Nichols threatened to close the gap further, however, Wentworth responded with timely goals to halt the surge. Still, the Bison refused to back down. Caserta completed his hat trick late, and Doherty converted on a man-up opportunity in the final seconds, but the comeback effort ultimately fell short as Wentworth held on for the 15-12 victory.
Nichols will look to regroup as they remain in the hunt for a postseason spot, hosting conference opponent Curry College at Vendetti Field in their regular season finale on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00 PM.
