Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Sophomore transfer Justin Bard scored a team-high five goals in his Western New England debut, and junior Patrick Dillon scored the game-winner with 37 seconds left, to lift the Golden Bears past visiting Keene State, 17-16, in a thrilling men's lacrosse non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon at Ronald J. Abdow Field on the campus of American International College. It was the season opener for both squads.

Ryan Hart led all scorers with six goals and seven points for Keene State, which led 9-6 at halftime and 13-9 after three quarters. Rob Hart added three goals and three assists, while Hunter Arnold had a game-best four assists and six points, and Tyler McKelvie recorded a hat trick.

Seniors Jon Bota, team captain Garrett Mullins (1 assist), sophomore Keegan Dudeck (1 assist) and Dillon each scored two goals apiece for WNE, which trailed 13-9 after Rob Hart scored with 14 seconds to end the third quarter. But Western New England roared back in the decisive fourth frame by erupting for eight goals to complete the comeback.

The Owls raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening 2 minutes and 48 seconds on goals from Ryan Askham and Ryan Hart with two, controlling much of the possession after the first face-off.

Western New England, however, responded with a five-goal run that was keyed by two goals apiece from Bard and Dudeck. Bard's second tally in the run with just 4 seconds left in the first quarter handed the Golden Bears' their first lead at 4-3, and Dudeck's second opened the scoring 27 seconds into the second frame for 5-3.

McKelvie found the back of the net twice, including a man-down goal, to make it a 5-5 score before senior Dan McKenna scored, unassisted, to make it 6-5 WNE at the 9:36 mark. Just 46 seconds after McKenna's goal, Keene State reclaimed the lead by scoring the next five goals to take a 10-6 lead that was capped by Rob Hart at the 10:39 mark of the third stanza.

The teams traded punches alternating two goals and then matching single goals to make it 13-9 KSC, setting the stage for WNE's dominating fourth quarter in which it outscored the Owls 8-3. Mullins started the rally as four different Golden Bears found the back of the net to make it 13-all.

Hunter Arnold put Keene up 14-13 at the 8:40 mark on a feed from Rob Hart. Dillon scored an unassisted goal 56 seconds later before Hart countered 29 ticks later to give the Owls their last lead at 7:15, 15-14.

Western New England scored three of the next four goals--by Bota at 6:40, Bard at 5:38 and Dillon at 0:37--to avenge 2014's season-opening loss at Keene, which is currently receiving votes in this week's USILA Division III coaches' national poll. After receiving a pass from Bard, Dillon came around to the left of the cage and feathered a low shot on the ground through the legs of goalie Dylan Florian (20 saves) for the game-winner.

Bard, who starred for the AIC Yellow Jackets as a freshman on this very field, potted 37 goals and 23 assists for 60 points to earn the 2014 Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year award.

Senior goalie Brandon Body (5 ground balls) matched Florian with 20 saves for the Golden Bears, who were led in ground balls by junior David Novitzky with six in his first collegiate start on defense.

James Dowd paced Keene with 10 ground balls and he went 19-for-34 at the face-off 'X.'

Keene State held the advantages in shots (56-52), ground balls (48-36), face-offs (19-17) and clears (13-for-16 to 17-for-22).

The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but got postponed because of temperatures in the teens (much warmer today with sunny skies and highs in the 30s) and was moved to this afternoon to nearby AIC because WNE's home facility, Golden Bear Stadium, was unplayable due to snow and ice.

Western New England hits the road Saturday for a date at nationally-ranked Stevenson (Md.) University.

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