PRIDE GRAB FIRST WIN OF 2015

BOSTON, Mass. – The Regis College men's lacrosse team picked up their first win of the 2015 campaign, fighting off a late rally from Emerson College to hang on for the 15-12 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Pride improves to 1-0 on the year, while the Lions fall to 1-1.

Regis jumped out to an early 3-0 lead to open the first quarter on tallies by Collin Spillane (Franklin, Mass.), Nick Dallas (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Alex Ferran (Miami, Fla.). Spillane's was his first career goal with the Pride. Emerson got on the board on an Andrew Romano goal, but Nicky Rodrigo (Miami, Fla.) scored the final two goals of the quarter to give Regis a 5-1 lead after one.

Each team scored three times in the second quarter as the two teams entered the half with the Pride on top, 8-4. Emerson's Calvin Bussiere and Nick Kitsos cut it to a 5-3 game, before Calvin Brault (Colchester, Vt.) ended the run with his first career goal. Romano netted his second of the game to make it 6-4, before Danny Rancano (Miami, Fla.) entered the scoring column and then picked up an assist on Brault's second goal of the period.

The Pride outscored Emerson 4-2 in the third quarter as Rodrigo and Spillane each scored once and Jack O'Brien (Milton, Mass.) netted the other two goals to give Regis a 12-6 lead headed into the final 15 minutes.

Spillane, Dallas, and Rancano scored the first three goals of the period to give the Pride their largest lead of the game at 15-6. With their backs against the wall, Emerson scored six-straight goals from the 11:56 mark to the 2:26 mark of the quarter to cut the deficit to 15-12.

The Pride defense stood tall in the final minutes of the game as Emerson attempted only one more shot and forced a turnover with 1:37 to play to hang on for the win.

Rodrigo and Spillane led the Pride attack with three goals apiece, while Rancano, Brault, and Dallas each had two goals. Jack O'Brien netted two goals as well, and dominated the face-off circle, going 18-for-28 on the day and scooped up nine groundballs. D.J. Barrile (Medford, Mass.) made eight saves in picking up his first win of the year. Andrew O'Reilly (Hollis, N.H.) led the Pride defense with seven groundballs.

The Crimson and Gold are back in action Wednesday night when they host Husson University at 5:00 p.m. in the Pride's home opener.