Box Score
ALBANY, N.Y. – The Eastern Connecticut State University men's lacrosse team outscored Russell Sage College 5-1 to wipe out a four-goal deficit and tie the score with eight minutes left before the Gators answered with three straight over a two-minute span and RSC went on to a 16-14 non-conference victory over the Warriors Tuesday evening at the ACP Athletic Complex.

Playing its sixth of seven straight road games to open the season, Eastern (2-4) has lost its last four while Russell Sage (1-6) won for the first time after six opening losses.

Trailing by four four minutes into the second half, Eastern limited the Gators to one goal over the next 15 minutes, outscoring RSC 5-1 to tie the game (13-13)  on a goal by junior Brycen Kennedy (Southington) for the first time since early in the second quarter.

In the first meeting ever between the programs, the Warriors raced to a 4-1 lead, but a goal by Anthony Marrone gave the hosts their first lead, 6-5 midway through the second quarter. The Gators held the lead until Eastern's 5-1 surge which was sparked by two goals from first-year attack Tanner Drobish (Wallingford), the team scoring leader with ten goals.  Kennedy's only goal tied it at 13-all but RSC struck three times in 2:13 to regain the lead and take a three-goal lead into the final 3:21.

Senior midfielder Andrew Pendagast (Southbury) scored twice to help stake the Warriors to their early 4-1 lead and  finished with three goals, with Drobish, junior midfielder Quinn O'Connor (Glastonbury) and senior midfielder Zacharie Appolon (Stamford) each contributing two goals and two assists.

Junior faceoff specialist Rick O'Neal (East Hartford) won 17 of  32 faceoffs (to improve his season percentage to .510)  and picked up ten ground balls to improve his team-leading total to 42, while first-year goalie Gregory Hilinski (Shelton) kept the game close with 16 saves as the Gators held a 54-30 advantage in shots. Junior defensemen Sean Ventresca (Montville) and Cody Brown (Waterford) had five and three ground balls, respectively.

Russell Sage season scoring leader Nate Kettle led both teams with four goals, giivng him 17 on the season.

Eastern visits Albright College Friday at 1 p.m. before opening its home season Tuesday at 4 p.m. in another non-conference match.