University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Hofstra
Minuteman Lacrosse Program Outlasts Hofstra For 9-7 Victory
March 21, 2015 | Men's Lacrosse
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse program secured a 9-7 victory at Hofstra Saturday afternoon on the strength of three goals by attackman Brendan Hegarty and a 13-save effort from goalie Zach Oliveri. Gianni Bianchin and Nick Mariano provided three-point performances through two goals and an assist apiece as the Minutemen improved to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in CAA games.
Andrew Sokol also notched three points as he assisted on two tallies and scored one of his own. Dan Muller chipped in a goal and assist while Peter Lindley and Brendan Schroeder helped out on UMass goal each.
Oliveri paced both sides with five groundballs. Close defenseman Kyle Karaska and long-stick midfielder Austin Spencer each scooped up three groundballs while Bob Fahey provided two caused turnovers.
"It was a tough-fought game," head coach Greg Cannella said. "Our guys hung in there and won a lot of groundballs, which is a positive for us. We played good defense against Hofstra, which is an excellent offensive team. Zach [Oliveri] hung in there and made some great saves for us. All around, it was the effort and energy the guys put forth [that won the game]."
Sam Llinares paced Hofstra with four points through two goals and as many assists. Mike Malave added scored twice as well, but the Pride was able to convert just seven of its 41 attempts against the Massachusetts defense.
Hegarty's last two tallies provided the difference in the win. The Setauket, New York, native scored unassisted with five minutes, five seconds left in the third for an 8-5 advantage only 58 seconds after Lindley helped Sokol double the lead. Hegarty completed the hat trick with 9:49 left during a shot clock warning situation for the final Massachusetts goal.
Malave and Brier Davis scored two minutes apart to cut the Pride's deficit to 9-7 with 5:39 to play, but Oliveri made saves on each of Hofstra's final two possessions to maintain the Minuteman advantage.
"It was exciting to be back here and emotional - it was my first game on Long Island without my dad," said Zach Oliveri of playing at home on Long Island after the passing of his father, Jim Oliveri, who passed away in December 2014. "I was pumped to get the win. It was great to see my family but you have to focus that energy into the game. I was able to focus and I am proud of how the team did on Long Island facing a great team in Hofstra."
Hegarty started a five-goal UMass run that turned an early 1-0 deficit into a four-goal advantage in the second quarter. He fielded a pass from Bianchin and faked high to put Hofstra goalie Chris Selva off balance before Hegarty placed a shot low into the back of the goal with 11:51 to go in the first.
Bianchin added a goal to his ledger for the 2-1 advantage only 47 seconds later as he connected from straightaway 20 yards out on a Mariano feed from X. Mariano followed with his first of the game at the crease near the right post to triple the advantage nearly five minutes later.
The Minutemen (3-5 overall, 1-0 CAA) continued their scoring run in the second quarter when Sokol found Bianchin in front for the Stoney Creek, Ontario, native's second goal of the day. Bianchin turned and fired from five yards away and beat Selva low just inside the left post with 9:04 left.
Mariano pushed the advantage to four goals when he snuck one by Selva at the left post with 6:31 to go in the second. Hofstra took a timeout following Mariano's second goal of the day and Llinares ended the 25-minute Hofstra scoring drought with his first of back-to-back scores separated by 19 seconds on the game clock.
Muller connected from 15 yards out following the halftime break as the Minutemen struck ahead, 6-3. However, Hofstra answered back with one each from Zachary Franco and Brendan Kavanagh to keep Massachusetts from pulling away during the third.
Sokol ended the two-goal Hofstra (3-5, 0-1) run with his second of the afternoon, scored on a feed from Lindley. Sokol's 13 points through seven games in 2015 already outpaces his production from a season ago, when he had 12 over 13 contests.
Hofstra also totaled a 41-26 margin in shots attempted, with at least 10 in each frame, and Kris Clarke won the Pride 10-of-18 faceoffs. Charlie Schatz went 4-of-5 in the category for the Maroon and White while Noah Rak finished 4-for-13. Selva ended the day with four saves in net.
The Minutemen continue road CAA action with a trip to No. 16/18 Towson (6-3, 0-0). UMass and the Tigers faceoff on Saturday, March 28 at Noon in Johnny Unitas Stadium.
