Klein and Brown Power Pride Past Falcons in GNAC Opener

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — After a two-week hiatus, and with the weather finally cooperating, the Regis College men's lacrosse team returned to action with a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup against the Falcons from Albertus Magnus College. The duo of Nick Klein and Ian Brown powered the Pride to a 12-10 victory, improving their record to 2–0 overall and 1–0 in GNAC play.

Klein led the Pride with five goals and one assist, while Brown netted four goals in just his second collegiate game. Jack Jaynes and Luke Meelia rounded out the scoring with two goals and one goal, respectively. Defensively, Colin McGarry paced the team with three caused turnovers. In goal, Devin Hammon earned the win, turning aside nine shots.

Cooper Strecker led the Falcons with four goals and two assists, while Marcus Burrow added a hat trick of his own. In net, Alexis Gonzalez made 17 saves in the effort.

How it Happened

The Falcons struck first, scoring in the opening minute, but Klein quickly responded to even the score. Brown then caught fire, finding the back of the net twice in the opening frame to help the Pride take a 3-1 lead after one quarter.

Klein added two more goals in the second, while the Falcons netted a pair of their own to keep the Pride's two-goal advantage intact at halftime. Hammon turned away three shots in the period to help preserve the lead.

Jaynes doubled the Pride's lead on the opening possession of the third quarter, but the Falcons answered with a surge, scoring four goals over a nine-minute span to knot the game at 707 with just over five minutes remaining in the frame. Klein and Meelia then sparked a rally, as Meelia set up Klein before adding a goal of his own to push the Pride back in front, 10-8, heading into the final quarter.

Strecker pulled the Falcons within one, but Jaynes and Brown responded with back-to-back tallies. Hammon recorded another three-save quarter to help his squad secure the 12-10 victory for the Pride at Celentano Field.

Inside the Numbers

• Nick Klein tied his career high with five goals, matching the mark he previously set against the Falcons during his rookie season. 
• Klein also eclipsed the 100 point mark in his career in his impressive showing this afternoon.
• Ian Brown recorded his first collegiate hat trick, finishing with a four-goal performance this afternoon.

Up Next

The Pride are back on the road this coming Saturday, March 7 when they travel to New Hampshire to take on GNAC foe, New England College at 1 p.m.