Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Seniors Colton Craig and Owen Caruso pumped in six points apiece and sophomore midfielder David Cedrone was a force in the face-off "X" to lead the Western New England men's lacrosse team to a come-from-behind 15-5 victory over visiting Wentworth on Thursday evening in the Commonwealth Coast Conference opener for both teams at Golden Bear Stadium. The Golden Bears snapped an uncharacteristic three-game losing streak to improve to 2-6 overall, while the Leopards drop to 3-4.

Michael Cushera came off the Wentworth bench to score a pair of goals, and Ryan Coakley had a team-best three points--all on assists.

Penalties hurt WNE in the early going as Alec Paradis and Cushera converted on back-to-back man-up goals 1 minute and 37 seconds apart beginning with 11:45 to go in the first quarter.

After Craig cut the deficit in half with an unassisted man-up goal of the Golden Bears' own at 7:31 showing on the clock, Nick Parent gave the Leopards another two-goal lead, 3-1, at the 6:19 mark.

Western New England, however, started to get its offense going by closing the opening stanza with unassisted goals by Caruso at 2:26 and 1:48. The teams started the second quarter tied 3-3.

The Golden Bears' defense and possession game also clicked into high gear, as Caruso's two markers were part of an 11-0 run to give WNE a commanding 12-3 lead at halftime. Western New England was never seriously threatened after that.

Cedrone won 17 of 20 face-offs and he scooped up a game-best 15 ground balls--both career highs--to set the defensive tone and help give WNE much of the possession for the final three quarters.

Cushera scored his second goal of the game and 10th of the season to open the fourth quarter to end the Leopards' drought, but then the Golden Bears tallied three of the final four goals--including a pair from Craig just 7 seconds apart.

The Golden Bears, who didn't allow a goal in the second and third quarters, outscored the Leopards 12 to 2 over the final 53:49.

Craig (4 ground balls) finished with five goals and an assist while Caruso (5 ground balls) ended up with four goals and two helpers. Seniors Adam Knapton and Sean Lawton contributed two goals apiece, and junior Dan McKenna registered his first goal of the season to go along with two assists.

Western New England senior long-stick midfielder Nicky Donovan chipped in six ground balls and he won his only face-off attempt.

Wentworth goalie Jared Proulx did his best to keep the Leopards close--especially in the first half--by recording 21 saves for the second consecutive outing. He also picked up a team-best eight ground balls. Junior Brandon Body made seven saves in the WNE goal.

Western New England also held statistical advantages in shots (54-23), shots on goal (36-12), ground balls (61-31), clears (17-of-20, 17-of-28), face-off wins (20-4), turnovers (18-21) and caused turnovers (10-8). Both teams scored twice with the man-up, as Wentworth had five chances to WNE's six.

Western New England avoided its first four-game losing streak in a single season since March 10-26, 2003. (The Golden Bears lost their 2013 season finale to SUNY Cortland in the NCAA Quarterfinals and the first three outings this spring.)

Western New England entertains Curry at 1 p.m. Saturday in another CCC match-up at Golden Bear Stadium.