Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Senior co-captain Sean Lawton scored a goal and had an assist to lead a balanced Western New England offensive attack that saw 11 student-athletes register at least one point, but the Golden Bears couldn't hold a three-goal lead in the fourth quarter during a 9-7 non-conference loss Saturday at crosstown rival Springfield College in men's lacrosse action at Stagg Field.

The host Pride, who are ranked 10th nationally in this week's USILA coaches' poll, improve to 4-0 to continue its best start as a NCAA Division III program. Western New England starts a season 0-3 for the first time since 2001.

Ryan Murphy scored four goals, including what proved to be the game-winner with 3 minutes remaining in the contest, and added a helper, while Ryon Lynch and Tony LaGuerre each registered two goals and an assist. LaGuerre added an insurance goal while a man-up with 75 seconds left.

In its home opener, Springfield scored the game's first goal with 4 minutes to go in the first quarter on a man-up strike by Lynch. Dylan Sheehan delivered a nifty inside feed to a cutting Lynch, who potted a goal into the bottom corner of the cage. The Pride added to its lead just 2:14 into the second quarter on an unassisted marker from Murphy. The senior got free from behind the cage and jammed home a one-handed wrap around goal into the top corner to put the hosts up 2-0.

Western New England answered back with five-straight goals as it found its offensive rhythm and took control of the second quarter, stunning the pro-Pride crowd of 1,500 fans.

The run started at the 10:39 mark when Lawton took the ball on a restart and bullied his way to the cage for WNE's first goal of the afternoon. Just 50 seconds later, Lawton found sophomore Taylor Waybright along the crease, who finished in traffic to tie the game at 2-2.

Senior Mike Donahue gave the Golden Bears their first lead of the afternoon, 3-2, after he blistered a shot from 15 yards out with 6:28 remaining in the half, and then WNE added to its lead as it took advantage of a pair of Springfield penalties for a man-up goal by freshman Keegan Dudeck. WNE's final goal of the first half came from senior Owen Caruso, who took a feed from sophomore Patrick Dillon in transition at the 1:59 mark.

Connor Nash was solid between the SC pipes, recording 12 saves in the victory. But WNE junior goalie Brandon Body was even better by producing 19 stops and a season-best .679 save percentage. Springfield outshot WNE by a 49-32 advantage, including 28-19 shots on goal.

Springfield came out of halftime with plenty of fire, netting two goals in a 16-second span to cut the deficit to 5-4. Murphy broke the Pride's scoring drought 2:25 into the third quarter after a gorgeous roll dodge on the crease allowed him to finish low while being hit. Springfield added another just moments later as Dom Roberto picked up a ground ball and raced toward the cage, finding Lynch on the doorstep who stuck one home after a flurry of moves.

In the final seconds of the third quarter, senior defender Jack Liacos snagged a loose ball out of the air and fired in WNE's only goal with just one-tenth of a second left in the stanza.

WNE carried that momentum into the fourth, with a Stephen Gair goal 1:08 into the quarter, to push its lead to 7-4.

But the Golden Bears were unable to withstand a furious Springfield rally, with the hosts scoring the final five goals of the game to get their third straight win in the series. The run started after a lengthy offensive series, as LaGuerre broke through for an assisted goal from Murphy at the 8:40 mark.

Then 1:35 later, LaGuerre blistered a cross field pass to Matt Fleisher who stung the top left corner from 10 yards out to make it 7-6. Springfield tied it up at the 6:10 mark on a sensational goal from Murphy, as he bounced home his third of the game with his back to the cage to set up his heroics for later.

Western New England had a golden opportunity to go back on top late with a two-man advantage, but Springfield's defense was able to kill off the man-up situation. Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, Lynch found Murphy in transition on the ensuing clear for the go-ahead tally.

Western New England will have its home opener in Golden Bear Stadium at 4 p.m. Tuesday against Trinity (Conn.) College out of the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

(Editor's note: Springfield College Sports Communications Office contributed to this game recap.)