Box Score BOSTON, Mass. - A furious fourth-quarter comeback was not enough to help UMass Boston Men's Lacrosse stay undefeated in the Little East Conference on Tuesday night. Western Connecticut State's 13 goals scored in the second and third periods made the difference in the Beacons' 18-13 defeat.

THE BASICS
UMass Boston 13, Western Connecticut State University 18

UMass Boston (9-5, 3-1 LEC)
Western Connecticut State University (8-4, 2-1 LEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter was a showdown between a pair of strong goalkeepers. UMass Boston's standout freshman James Boldy stopped five shots while letting in just two, but was pitted against Brendan Grove who saved both shots he saw.

The Wolves kept the ball rolling with a pair of early scores in the second, but the Beacons found their rhythm shortly thereafter. Luke Murphy got things started by dishing out an assist to Charlie Chapman for the team's first goal. Less than a minute later, it was Murphy doing the scoring to cut the lead to two. Nolen Bauregard put his squad within a score of tying when he went unassisted for his first goal of the year.

Two WestConn scores were quickly answered by a Sean Daly goal that brought the Beacons back within two, 6-4. The Wolves, however, unloaded three goals in the final minute of the half to take a 9-4 lead into the break.

The third quarter belonged to Western Connecticut, who put away six more goals to take a 15-4 lead, presumably sealing the victory. 

The Beacons, however, applied some pressure in the fourth. A pair of Greg Wolff goals cut the WestConn lead to 16-6 with over 10 minutes left to play. His third did the same and opened the door for Murphy and Patrick Dwinnells to pull the team within eight with eight to play, 17-9.

Daly, Zach Mann, and Murphy each scored in the final 90 seconds of the game, but the bum rush was too little too late.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Matt Lucozzi won 19 of his 33 faceoffs, scooping a team-high nine ground balls along the way
• Murphy finished the evening with five points as well as four ground balls and four caused turnovers on the defensive end
• The Beacons converted 20 of their 21 clear attempts
• Daly's three goals and assist padded his team leads in goals (37) and points (57)
• After winning eight straight against the Wolves from 2016 to 2022, the Beacons have dropped three straight in the series

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will travel to Willimantic on Saturday to face Eastern Connecticut State University for a 1 PM game.