BOSTON, Mass. – Perhaps one of the most decorated senior classes in program history closed out their final regular season on the harbor campus in winning style as they cruised to a 19-7 win over New England College Friday evening at James Cotter Field.

THE BASICS
UMass Boston 19, New England College 7

UMass Boston (15-2)
New England College (6-10)

HOW IT HAPPENED
With the regular season come to an end, the Beacons can now look to the Little East Conference Tournament, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. As the top-seed UMass Boston receives a first round bye and will host a semi-final game on Thursday at 1:30 pm at James Cotter Field.

This will mark the second straight year, and third time since 2017 that the Beacons hosted an LEC semi-final game on their home field.

In Friday's contest, the Pilgrims kept the score close especially through the first two quarters. UMass Boston held a slim 4-1 advantage after the first 15 minutes. Four different players found the back of the cage in the opening stanza with Gavin Admirand and Michael Claflin each recording a goal and an assist.

New England College nearly matched the Beacons in scoring in the second, with UMB taking a four-goal lead into the halftime break (7-3).

In the third, the Beacons unleashed a blitzkrieg on the Pilgrims defense scoring three goals in two minutes and 25 seconds. The Beacons then added three more goals to gain a comfortable 13-5 advantage.

UMB added another six goals to their cause in the fourth to seal the victory for the seniors.

Admirand continues his climb to 200 career points as a Beacon as he now sits with 195. Claflin led the Beacons with four goals, while also picking-up four assists for a solid eight point showing. Admirand matched his teammate in the assists category to cap-off a seven point day for the senior.

Jacob Banks and Darragh Fahey each had hat tricks, with Fahey also earning three assists. Fahey finished second on the team in ground balls with six, while Jason McNeany led the team with 10, while also going 10-for-14 on the face-off "X".

Trevor Koppy and Christian Meinhold combined for 13 saves as the duo each played a half. Michael Catalano was unreal between the pipes for the Pilgrims totaling 19 stops.

Robert Sprague and Justin McCullough anchored the Beacons defense with three caused turnovers each.

BY THE NUMBERS

• All-time the Beacons are now 6-2 against NEC, and have won their last two meetings
• Friday's win was UMB's first over NEC on their home field since March 1, 2016
• The Class of 2022 has posted a combined 33 wins since their arrival on the harbor campus, with the 2020 season cut short due to the pandemic.
• This year's class is the first in over two decades to earn a win over Keene State College, and to post back-to-back undefeated conference records

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will await the winner of the #4 Mass. Maritime vs. #5 Eastern Connecticut State quarterfinal game, which will be played on Tuesday in Buzzards Bay, MA. The semi-final game will be played on Thursday at James Cotter Field at 1:30 pm.