Men’s Lacrosse Edged by Kean on Friday

Union, NJ| The St. Joseph's College (L.I.) men's lacrosse team dropped a 5-4 decision at Kean University on Friday evening. The loss sends the Golden Eagles to 6-6 on the year as the Cougars improve to 12-2.

Sophomore Chris Nielsen scored a team-high two goals on three shots and scooped up three ground balls.

Senior Casey Hickey and sophomore Zak Jones pitched in with a goal apiece, and sophomore Declan Canevari won eight of 13 faceoffs.

Freshman Adam Sivon (6-6) made 13 saves on 18 shots for the guests.

A low-scoring first half yielded just two goals--one for the Cougars off the stick of Tyler Roberto in the first quarter and a tying marker from Jones with 1:10 to play in the second quarter.

Kean went back up one 1:40 in the third, but goals by Nielsen and Hickey in the frame's final four minutes ensured SJC took a 3-2 lead into the fourth quarter.

Nielsen's second goal of the game extended the Golden Eagles' lead to two goals (4-2) just 42 seconds into the fourth, but three-consecutive tallies in the game's final 11:20 clinched a tight one-goal victory for Kean (5-4).

The Cougars held a sizable advantage in shots, 33-20, but SJC was better on faceoffs (8-3). A combined 0-for-9, neither side scored a man-up goals.

The Golden Eagles hope to clinch a Skyline Conference playoff berth when they face SUNY Purchase in their regular season finale on Monday, April 23. Play from Purchase, NY begins at 7:00 pm.