University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, February 7
Amherst, Mass.
3 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
0-1
16
vs
5
Merrimack
0-1
1
2
3
4
OT
F
Merrimack
4
0
0
1
0
5
UMass
2
6
4
4
0
16
Men's Lacrosse Gives Smith First Win As Head Coach, 16-5 Over Merrimack
February 07, 2026 | Men's Lacrosse
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse overcame a 4-2 first quarter deficit, pulling away for a 16-5 win over Merrimack on Saturday afternoon at the Bubble. The victory marked Kyle Smith's first win as a head coach and moves UMass to 1-1 on the year, while the Warriors fall to 0-1.
Sophomore Robbie Granara led the way for the Gorillas with four points on two goals and two assists and junior Charles Kurtz followed with his first career hat trick. Junior Matthew Cargiulo and redshirt sophomore Dylan Johnson each contributed three points (2g, 1a) and sophomore Jack Turowksy and senior Aiden Drunsic logged a goal and an assist apiece. TJ Casey won 10-of-18 faceoffs and Zach Auble registered four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
Alystair Hemburger was the lone multi-goal scorer for Merrimack with two and Jack Salva had two assists.
Johnson opened the scoring for UMass at the 14-minute mark in the first with his first collegiate and Thomas Bagnall added another 1:01 later for a 2-0 advantage.
The Warriors responded with a man-up goal at 10:24 to begin a 4-0 stretch for Merrimack, capped with another EMO tally from Hemburger with 1:07 remaining in the frame.
Massachusetts responded by out-scoring Merrimack 10-0 in the next two quarters and 14-1 overall in the remainder of the contest.
UMass finished with a 47-33 advantage in shots and grabbed 18 ground balls to the Warriors' 15.
Owen Salanger totaled 12 saves before being relieved by Ryan Mazzariello (2 saves). Jesse Dalonzo recorded 15 saves for Merrimack.
The Gorillas will be back in action next Friday, February 13, when the squad travels to Hamden, Connecticut to take on Quinnipiac at 2 p.m.
Sophomore Robbie Granara led the way for the Gorillas with four points on two goals and two assists and junior Charles Kurtz followed with his first career hat trick. Junior Matthew Cargiulo and redshirt sophomore Dylan Johnson each contributed three points (2g, 1a) and sophomore Jack Turowksy and senior Aiden Drunsic logged a goal and an assist apiece. TJ Casey won 10-of-18 faceoffs and Zach Auble registered four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
Alystair Hemburger was the lone multi-goal scorer for Merrimack with two and Jack Salva had two assists.
Johnson opened the scoring for UMass at the 14-minute mark in the first with his first collegiate and Thomas Bagnall added another 1:01 later for a 2-0 advantage.
The Warriors responded with a man-up goal at 10:24 to begin a 4-0 stretch for Merrimack, capped with another EMO tally from Hemburger with 1:07 remaining in the frame.
Massachusetts responded by out-scoring Merrimack 10-0 in the next two quarters and 14-1 overall in the remainder of the contest.
UMass finished with a 47-33 advantage in shots and grabbed 18 ground balls to the Warriors' 15.
Owen Salanger totaled 12 saves before being relieved by Ryan Mazzariello (2 saves). Jesse Dalonzo recorded 15 saves for Merrimack.
The Gorillas will be back in action next Friday, February 13, when the squad travels to Hamden, Connecticut to take on Quinnipiac at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
MC
UMA
Shots
33
47
Turnovers
16
9
Caused Turnovers
3
7
Faceoffs Won
13
12
Extra-Man Opps
2
4
Ground Balls
17
19
Game Leaders
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
1-1
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
2
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's LacrosseM
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's LacrosseM
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Men's LacrosseMLAX | Merrimack vs Massachusetts | 02.07.26
Saturday, February 07
Plant the Flag With Kyle Smith
Friday, January 16
UMass MLAX | 4.12.25 | Win vs. St. Bonnies | Cinematic Recap
Saturday, April 12
UMass MLAX | Highlights vs St. Bonaventure | 04.12.25
Saturday, April 12