Massachusetts Men’s Lacrosse Secures First Win Of 2024, 10-7, Over UMass Lowell – University of Massachusetts Athletics

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts men’s lacrosse team earned its first win of the 2024 with a 10-7 victory over in-state foe UMass Lowell at Garber Field on Saturday afternoon. The Gorillas move to 1-1 while the River Hawks drop to 0-2. 

Mason Bregman led UMass offensively, netting a pair of goals and assisting another while Matt Knote made 10 saves to backstop the defense. Mike Tobin scored his first two goals of the season, while Matthew Cargiulo and Caelin Lewis both chipped in with two tallies each. Carter Castillo dished three assists and Charles Kurtz logged an assist for his first collegiate point. 

Defensively Jack Wittmaack registered four caused turnovers and Owen Quinn picked up four ground balls. Over X, Caleb Hammett won 15-of-21 (71.4%) and corralled six ground balls.  

Khairi Sears had a team-best three points for UMass Lowell with two goals and an assist and Riley Lawhorn and Johnny Soi registered two goals apiece. 

The River Hawks began the contest with a 2-0 lead before Tobin put UMass on the board at the 6:09 mark. Lawhorn then converted on a man-up opportunity for UMass Lowell at 4:31 to regain a two-goal cushion before Bregman closed out the quarter with two scores to level things at 3-3.  

Shane O’Leary opened the second quarter scoring to give the Gorillas their first lead of the day, which began a 4-1 run for UMass. Sears then brought the River Hawks back within a pair at the break with a goal in the final minute of the period.  

The teams traded goals in the third and then UMass Lowell came within 8-7 of the Gorillas in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. That would be as close as the River Hawks would come, however, as the UMass defense held strong and Cargiulo and Lewis added some insurance at 11:13 and 6:06 respectively. 

The Gorillas finished the day with a 40-38 edge in shots and won the ground ball battle, 32-26. Matt Knote registered 10 saves in the contest and Mark Pav had 13 for UMass Lowell. 

UMass will be back in action on Tuesday, February 20, when the squad plays host to Marist at 3 p.m. on Garber Field.