SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 1, 2025) – The men's lacrosse program hosted in-town rivals Springfield College for an under-the-lights showdown. Springfield would put together back-to-back 4-2 quarters to start the game and would lead 8-4 at the half, with Jake Degnan scoring half of the Springfield goals. Neither team would score a goal in the third quarter, but WNE would outscore Springfield 3-1 in the fourth quarter and fall to their rivals 9-7.

Records:

• Western New England: 5-6 (2-0)
• Springfield College: 6-6 (0-2)

How it Happened:

 The rivalry contest started with Jonathon Salsbury and Kaden Quirk in opposing nets. Chris Catuosco won the opening faceoff for the Golden Bears, but after a WNE turnover, Jake Degnan netted the first goal for Springfield. They led 1-0 1:41 into the game. Springfield would earn the next possession, but after two Salsbury saves, Jack Houlden would end up with the ball and sent a shot right into the top right corner of the goal to tie the game at one, 3:21 into the contest. Both goalies would make another save, with Salsbury making a fourth save right in front of the net. However, after a WNE turnover, Rory Scanlon found the back of the net with a shot assisted by Brady Soldo. Springfield led 2-1 with 8:31 left in the first. The Pride would grab another goal after turnovers from both teams landed Springfield with the ball. Brady Soldo now had the goal, with Ryan Berkel getting credit for the assist. The score was 3-1. Then, with Springfield retaining possession, they would turn over possession, and Zachary Mein would make them pay with a goal assisted by Griffin LaRochelle. However, the Pride would answer by doubling the lead once again. After the Golden Bears almost caused a turnover, Brady Soldo would find Jack Degnan for Degnan's second goal and Soldo's second assist of the contest. Springfield followed that with a faceoff win and an immediate timeout to set up another scoring chance. They would get two shots, but one went wide, and Salsbury saved the other. The Golden Bears were then called for a penalty, which Springfield would take into the quarter break. Springfield led 4-2 going into the second quarter. Springfield led in almost every stat category at the break. They had more shots 14-3, shots on goal 9-3, faceoff wins 5-2, and ground balls 10-3. WNE led in saves 5-1.

The second would start with Springfield taking advantage of the man-up chance and score. Jake Degnan netted the hat trick with that goal assisted by Kevin Tierney. WNE trailed 5-2. They would earn a man-up opportunity after 34 seconds into the second quarter but could not capitalize. Then, after a Springfield shot slammed off the crossbar, Zachary Mein would score Mein's second goal of the contest unassisted to make the score 5-3. After that, the Golden Bears earned another man-up chance and had a shot but could not score, and Springfield killed off the penalty. That penalty kill would lead to a Brady Soldo goal assisted by Kevin Tierney to regift Springfield with a three-goal lead. The teams would trade shots and possession after the goal, but neither team was able to score before WNE called a timeout. After the timeout, the Golden Bears had two big chances, but Quirk saved them both. Those saves earned momentum for Springfield. Jake Degnen took advantage of it and scored off an assist from Brady Soldo. That gave Springfield a 7-3 lead. Rory Scanlon added to the Springfield lead with an unassisted goal 41 seconds later before a Springfield timeout was called. WNE was called for a penalty after the goal, which led to a Springfield man-up chance. However, a turnover led to the Golden Bears earning the ball back, and they would call a timeout to develop a scoring chance before the end of the first half. That's exactly what happened, as Griffin LaRochelle would score with forty seconds left in the half. Salsbury would make one last save to keep the score at 8-4 going into halftime. The first-half stats saw Springfield leading in shots 23-11, shots on goal 16-7, faceoff wins 10-3, and ground balls 22-10. WNE led in saves 8-3.

The first half of the third quarter saw the teams trade shots, saves, and turnovers. Neither team could get the first goal of the second half. Then, with 6:26 left in the third, the Golden Bears earned a man-up chance but could not capitalize on the Springfield penalty as they turned over possession. As the clock ticked on, the defenses and goalies kept holding the opposing offense. Neither team could find an answer or a goal. After a couple of Golden Bear shots at the end of the third, the quarter would end with neither team scoring a goal in the third. Springfield led 8-4 after three quarters of play. Springfield led in shots 29-18, shots on goal 18-8, faceoff wins 10-4, and ground balls 28-17.

Springfield would open the fourth with a goal 13 seconds into the final quarter of play. Riley Burgmyer would assist Jackson Lane in giving Springfield the 9-4 lead. That was answered 45 seconds later by Zachary Mein scoring on the man-up chance, who was assisted by Jacob Roy. After the quick flurry of goals to start the final quarter of play, the teams would trade turnovers and see Salsbury make multiple saves to keep the Golden Bears in the game before Springfield called a timeout. Neither team could score after the timeout, either. That led to the Golden Bears being called for a penalty. Springfield would drain the clock and have a shot but could not score. The Golden Bears would grab a ground ball, and Jack Houlden would score on the other end of the field. The Golden Bears trailed 9-6 with 3:20 left in the contest. WNE would see Rocco DeSimone win the ensuing faceoff, but Quirk would make a save and keep WNE from cutting the lead to two. Springfield, feeling the momentum shift slightly, would call a timeout. The Golden Bears caused a turnover after the timeout and saw Jacob Roy score an unassisted goal with 59 seconds left. WNE was down by two and would win the final faceoff before Springfield caused a turnover and secured the win 9-7. The final stats showed Springfield leading in shots 39-23, shots on goal 23-12, faceoff wins 11-8, and ground balls 35-24. WNE led in saves 14-5.

Inside the Lines:

• Springfield was led by Jake Degnan, who scored four goals in the first half of play.
• Brady Soldo led the Pride in points with six.
• Rafe Lawless led Springfield's defense with three caused turnovers, and Kaden Quirk made five saves.
• The Golden Bears were led by a 14-save effort from Jonathon Salsbury in goal.
• Zachary Mein led the Golden Bears in goals and points, with three goals and three total points.
• Zachary Mein and Logan Jenkins led the Golden Bears with four ground ball pickups each.
• WNE lost to Springfield 9-7.

Coach's Corner:

The game's leading goal-scorer during the game, Zachary Mein, was asked a couple of questions after the loss. Mein was asked how the team played, especially in their second-half comeback effort. "I think compared to previous games, instead of folding, we came together, started to come back a bit, and then if we connect on a few possessions and it's a different game," stated Mein. When asked about Mein's thoughts on the pivotal conference matchup with Endicott on Sunday, Mein replied, "They're a good team, but I think we just gotta show up and stick to what we do best and then see what happens."

Head coach John Klepacki was asked what Klepacki thought about the overall effort after a tough loss, which saw the team make a comeback during the second half. "In this kind of game, it's a special game. I thought our guys played hard, and it was nice to see some kids step up in this kind of game and I don't think we quit, and we came back in the second half. There's details we're learning, there's stuff we're growing from. I'm excited about how they've been competing," Klepacki mentioned. When asked about how the team takes the second half and adds to it for Endicott on Saturday, Klepacki stated, "I just think we have to just keep looking at our details and focusing on doing the little things. I feel like little pieces have been coming along throughout the year, and we just got to keep putting them together." Finally, coach Klepacki was asked about coaching against Klepacki's former college coach at Springfield College for the final time as coach Keith Bugbee is retiring after this season. "Yeah, it was a special time. Coach has done a lot for me in my profession… Outside of the game, he has been such a great role model to me. He's just a special guy, and it was kind of surreal realizing this is the last time we're gonna be able to go against each other. I'm definitely gonna miss that aspect," Klepacki commented.

Up Next on the Schedule:

The Golden Bears will travel to CNE rivals Endicott College on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 4:00 PM for their next game. The Golden Bears are 16-14 versus the Gulls since 2008 but have lost the previous two matchups.