Box Score SALEM, Mass. – The Eastern Connecticut State University men's lacrosse team outscored Salem State University by five goals in the second and half unofficially clinched either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the upcoming Little East Conference tournament with an 11-5 victory Friday afternoon.
Regardless of the outcome of Sunday's home LEC finale against Plymouth State University at noon, Eastern (6-8, 3-4 LEC) will qualify for the playoffs with a first-round road game as either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed. As a No. 5 seed, the Warriors would visit No. 4 and as the No. 6 seed, would visit the No. 3 seed.
Leading 7-5 a minute into the fourth quarter against Salem (3-11, 1-7 LEC), Eastern scored the final four goals – the last three in a man-up situation – to post its 18th straight win without a loss in the series.
Sophomore Jake Liebowitz (Trumbull) scored the first of the four goals, sophomore Kyle Cardoza (Waterford) adding the second and junior Jacob Testa (Southington) the final two. Junior Anthony Choronzy (Clinton) assised on two of the four and Cardoza on one.
Liebowitz and senior Matthew Rougeot (Cheshire) led Eastern with three goals each, Rougeot also handing out two assists. Cardoza had two goals and four assists and Choronzy three assists. Choronzy also won five ground balls and faceoff man sophomore Tyler Stein (Milford), in part by winning seven by nine of 17 faceoffs.
Eastern served only two 30-second penalties in the game, and effectively killed off both.
Junior Jack Farrell (Stratford) turned away seven shots through three quarters, sophomore John Funk (Southbury) making four in the final quarter and allowing only one goal.
