BOSTON, Mass. - What was expected to be a tightly contested game between the UMass Boston Men's Lacrosse team and the visiting Salve Regina Seahawks delivered on the promise Tuesday night. Neither team lead by more than three goals at any point, but it was the Beacons who pulled away late to secure the 17-15 non-conference victory.

THE BASICS
UMass Boston 17, Salve Regina University 15

UMass Boston (7-2)
Salve Regina University (3-6)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Seahawks got thing started about as quickly as they could on Tuesday, turning an opening faceoff win into the game's opening score in just 13 seconds of game time. Justin McCullough, though, was quick with the response, turning defense into offense with his second goal of the year. The backhand flip for a score knotted the game at 1-1.

After two minutes of tied lacrosse, Brayden MacLean continued to build on his historic outing against Salem State on Saturday. The transfer sophomore went unassisted for his seventh goal in just his third game with the team.

The squads traded goals to preserve the Beacons' one-goal lead, but gave way to a drought that lasted nearly eight minutes. That drought was brought to an end in part thanks to MacLean, who dished an assist to Greg Wolff to stretch the lead to 4-2 with three minutes to play in the first.

The team's combined to score three goals in the final minute of the first quarter, including MacLean's second which ripped the net with just three seconds to play, pushing the lead to 6-4.

Trailing by two to start the second, the Seahawks put together a 4-0 run to flip the lead in their favor. An unassisted Luke Murphy goal and MacLean dishes to Charlie Chapman and Liam Bowler put the Beacons out in front 9-8.

UMass Boston was once again the beneficiary of a buzzer beater goal at the end of the second. This time it was McCullough turning a caused turnover into an assist to Wolff to knot the game at 10 going into halftime.

After making their halftime corrections, the Beacons turned to the Murphy-MacLean connection to swing things their way. Two connections between the pair in a matter of just 15 seconds put the home team out in front 12-10.

After the Seahawks stormed back to tie the game, the Beacons turned to Mic Flynn for his first score of the game to reclaim the lead. A pair of Daly scores extended the advantage to 15-12, the largest of the game for either side, at the end of the third period.

Salve touched the net three times in the fourth, but a hat trick finisher from Wolff and another buzzer beater from Chapman solidified the 17-15 win for UMass Boston.

BY THE NUMBERS

• In just nine games played this season, Daly has accounted for 30 goals and 13 assists
• After recording just two saves on 12 shots faced in the first half, James Boldy saved 12 of the 17 he faced in the second to secure the win
• MacLean has recorded 10 goals and eight assists in three games played for the Beacons
• In addition to his two points on the offensive end, McCullough recorded three caused turnovers and two ground balls on defense
• The Beacons avenged their 2023 season-opening loss to Salve Regina, earning their first win over the Seahawks since 2007

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons return to Little East Conference play on Saturday, March 30 when they host Plymouth State University at 1 PM.