Box Score STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Led by six points from midfielder Max Tuttle, the Sacred Heart men's lacrosse team wrapped up the regular season with a 13-11 win over the Wagner Seahawks at Hameline Field.
Tuttle had three goals and three assists in the game, his third game this season with over five points. Joe Saggese had five points on four goals and an assist. Kevin Cop had a season-high four points with two goals and two assists. Mike Calvagna and Jake Giaquinto were a combined 22-for-28 on faceoffs. With the win, SHU wrapped up the regular season at 9-5 for the Pioneers' most wins in a single season in the Division I era.
Sacred Heart (9-5, 4-2 NEC) and Wagner traded goals in the first quarter. The Pioneers opened the scoring with a goal by Saggese at the 6:30 mark, assisted by Tuttle. Less than two minutes later, the Seahawks tied the game 1-1 on an Andrew Streilein tally. Kevin Cop then scored off the following faceoff to give SHU a 2-1 lead with 4:30 left in the first.
Wagner (6-9, 1-5 NEC) then leveled the game with 1:28 to go as Dominic Branda's goal made the score 2-2. Tuttle and Wagner's Nick Ancona both scored in the final minute to put the score at 3-3 heading into the second quarter. The Pioneers got goals from Cop and Jurk thirty-five seconds apart to start the second, giving SHU a 5-3 lead. Wagner came back to tie the game, 5-5, on goals by Streilein and Christian McCormick with 4:29 to go. Tuttle gave SHU a 6-5 halftime lead with his second goal at the 2:27 mark of the second quarter.
The Pioneers opened the third quarter with back-to-back goals from Tuttle and Bryce Jurk to take an 8-5 lead with 11:37 to play. After Saggese's second goal of the game put SHU ahead 9-6 with 7:50 to go, Wagner got goals form Branda and John Norton to cut the deficit to one, 9-8, with 1:13 left in the third quarter. SHU took a two-goal lead to start the fourth quarter. Mike Calvagna won the opening faceoff of the period and scooped and scored to make the score 10-8 just eight seconds into the fourth. Less than a minute later, Saggese finished off his hat trick to give the Pioneers an 11-8 lead. Sacred Heart continued the run with a goal from Brian Masi and another Saggese tally to take a 13-8 lead with 7:38 remaining.
SHU outshot Wagner 39-37 and held a 39-26 advantage in groundballs. Brooks Dutton and Greg Price combined to make 10 saves in goal for the Pioneers. Streilein led Wagner with four goals and five points.
The Pioneers have qualified for the NEC Men's Lacrosse Championship for the third time in program history, and the first time since 2014. The tournament will be held May 4th and 6th, with the site to be determined Saturday.
