University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
4-2
Vermont
2-4
#20 Massachusetts Men's Lacrosse Falls To Vermont, 13-12
March 09, 2024 | Men's Lacrosse
AMHERST, Mass.- The University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team dropped a heartbreaker to Vermont on Saturday afternoon on Garber Field. UMass goes to 4-2 while the Catamounts improve to 2-4 on the season.
Captain Mike Tobin and transfer Caelin Lewis each had a hat trick to pace the Minutemen. Mason Bregman (3A) and Shane O'Leary (2G,1A) also had three-point performances in the loss.
Goalkeeper Matt Knote had a career day in net for the Gorillas. The captain did all he could to keep the game close, recording a season-high 19 saves and helping UMass kill five of six extra-man opportunities. But the highlight of the day for Knote came at the 7:37 mark of the third quarter with a full field goal for his first career point.
?????? GOALIE GOAL ALERT ??????@KnoteMatt from downtown!!!@ESPNAssignDesk @NCAALAX @atlantic10 @Inside_Lacrosse #SCTop10 #GorillaLacrosse?? X #Flagship ?? pic.twitter.com/bCYKNzvUdz
— UMass Men's Lacrosse (@UMassMLacrosse) March 9, 2024
The contest started with the Minutemen rattling off the first three goals of the game as Shane O'Leary scored his first and Lewis netted the next two. UVM scored their first goal of the game late in the frame as UMass held a 3-1 lead.
After Carter Castillo picked out Matthew Cargiulo at the 13:12 mark of the second, UVM scored the next two and tied the game at four apiece. Tobin would score to give the Gorillas back the lead and Lewis completed his hat trick to give UMass a 6-4 advantage going into halftime.
Coming out of the break, the Minutemen and Catamounts traded goals before the biggest tally of the day. Running out of time to clear the ball, Knote launched a shot from behind his own net that bounced by Vermont goalkeeper George Egan for his first career point. Despite UMass taking all of the momentum, the Catamounts responded to Knote's goal with two goals from Cullen Decker to pull within one. Tobin got the Gorillas back on track by netting his third of the day and UMass clutched a two-goal lead heading to the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Vermont offense exploded, scoring the first four goals of the frame to take an 11-9 lead. Trailing for the first time, UMass got goals from Conor Foley, Grant Breyo and Shane O'Leary but Vermont always responded and never gave up their lead.
Vermont was led by Charlie Pope who scored five goals while four other Catamounts had four-point outings. UVM's Henry Dodge won the faceoff battle, going 17-27 from the dot while Egan made ten saves.
The Minutemen and Catamounts were dead even in ground balls and turnovers, as both teams finished the game with 34 and 16 respectively.
After closing out their homestand, the Minutemen will hit the road as they take on #16 ranked Rutgers in a neutral-site contest in Farmingdale, N.Y. next Saturday. Faceoff is set for 1 p.m.
