SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior attacker Bryan Cofrin (Londonderry, NH) scored twice and senior goalie Chris Body (Newtown, CT) made 14 saves as the No. 8 Western New England College men's lacrosse team posted a 7-2 victory over visiting Bates College in the season opener for both teams Sunday (March 2).

The game marked the return of junior midfielder Brody Savoie (Wilbraham, MA) to the Golden Bears' lineup. Savoie, who had an assist, missed the 2007 campaign while serving in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Reserves.

“I was nervous at first, but to get back on the green turf, you couldn't ask for anything else,” said Savoie.

Senior attacker Tim Heffernan (Glastonbury, CT) and senior midfielder Jon Hayes (Waltham, MA) each added a goal and assist. 

Senior midfielder Travis Brown (Chapel Hill, NC) won 10 of 12 face-offs. Senior midfielder Ben Reardon (Longmeadow, MA) had a goal and six ground balls while junior defender Jared Pabis (Wilbraham, MA) also picked-up six ground balls.

The Bobcats took a 1-0 lead when junior midfielder Alex Cronstein (New York, NY) scored a minute into the game.

The Golden Bears tied the contest when freshman midfielder Colin Houlihan (Yorktown Heights, NY) scored his first collegiate goal  on his first shot at the 9:31 mark.

That was the first of five straight WNEC goals who took a 5-1 into the fourth quarter before senior attacker Craig Blake (Ballston Lake, NY) netted the other goal for Bates. Senior goalie Will Paddock (Denver, CO) stooped 10 shots for the visitors.