#10 Men's Lacrosse Clinches Third Seed With 5-3 Win At #12 Bentley

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Contact: Seth Cole - Phone: 802.654.2537

Box Score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/mlax/2010-11/files/mlbenstm.htm.

WALTHAM, Mass. - The 10th-ranked Saint Michael's College men's lacrosse team (8-5, 7-2 Northeast-10 Conference) clinched the third seed in the NE-10 Tournament with a 5-3 win at 12th-ranked Bentley University on Wednesday evening.

Freshman Chris Demairo (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) led a stout defensive effort with 11 saves, including seven in a scoreless second quarter. Sophomore Pete Donnally (Madison, N.J./Morristown-Beard) paced the offense with three goals, while junior Paul Tortora, Jr. (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Prep) and sophomore Marty Vanzo (Westford, Vt./Essex/Univ. of Vermont) added a goal and assist apiece.

The Falcons were led by Brendan Grant's two goals, while Steve Caditz added one goal. Mike O'Neil turned aside 12 shots for Bentley (6-6, 6-3 NE-10), who will enter the NE-10 Tournament as the fourth seed. Bentley also entered Wednesday's game as the top-ranked team in the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Division II Poll, while Saint Michael's was ranked second.

Following a scoreless first half that saw Saint Michael's control play in the first period, and Bentley return the favor in the second quarter, Caditz opened the game's scoring 5:15 into the third quarter. That was the only lead for the Falcons, however, as Saint Michael's offense began to click, and the Purple Knights scored four unanswered goals in a 7:30 span later in the period. Donnally's second goal of the quarter gave Saint Michael's a 4-1 lead, and a goal by Grant with 28 seconds left in the frame cut Bentley's deficit to 4-2 after three periods.

The host Falcons pulled to within 4-3 on Grant's second goal with 12:41 left in regulation, but that was the final goal for Bentley, and Donnally's insurance score with 8:30 to go gave Saint Michael's some breathing room and completed the scoring.

Saint Michael's finished with a 35-33 edge in shots, and both teams scooped up 29 ground balls. Bentley won nine of the game's 12 faceoffs, but committed one more turnover than the Purple Knights in the tightly-contested contest.

Saint Michael's closes the regular season on Saturday with a 4 p.m. Senior Day contest versus Assumption College on Duffy Field at Doc Jacobs Complex.

-PURPLEKNIGHTS-