Box Score
READING, Pa. – Four first-year players combined for eight goals and first-year goalie Gregory Hilinski (Shelton) made 15 saves as the Eastern Connecticut State University men's lacrosse team shook free from a four-game losing streak in a 15-11 non-conference victory over Albright College Friday afternoon at Gene L. Shirk Stadium.

Eastern (3-4), which had sustained two-goal losses twice during its four-game losing streak, never trailed against Albright (4-4), taking the lead for good in the first eight minutes and getting a pair of goals from sophomore attack Mike Stevenson (Shelton) two minutes and 30 seconds apart in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter after the Lions had pulled to within two, 11-9, in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

The Warriors outshot their opponent (54-43) for the first time since an opening win at Gordon College and had more ground balls (33-26) than their opponent for only the second time this year.
The Warriors were flagged for only three penalties (their season average) and successfully killed off each of Albright's extra-man opportunities.

Hilinski recorded double-figure saves (15) for the fifth time in seven starts this year. Nine of Hilinski's saves came in the second half when the Lions outscored the Warriors, 15-11.

First-year attack Connor Chirico (Milford) led Eastern with four goals, Stevenson scoring three, first-year attack Tanner Drobish (Wallingford) and junior midfielder Quinn O'Connor (Glastonbury) scoring two each. First-year midfielder Sean Filley (Guilford) and Gabe Roman (Meriden) all added one goal, Roman's man-up strike coming in the final minute of the first quarter.

First-year defenseman Eric Suzio (Meriden) caused four of Eastern's 11 turnovers, with junior defenseman Cody Brown (Waterford) picking up five ground balls and Suzio and junior faceoff man Rick O'Neal (East Hartford) collecting four each. O'Neal won 13 faceoffs.

The victory comes during the team's seventh straight opening road game. The Warriors open at home Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Roger Williams University.