PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team was held to just one goal in the opening quarter and was unable to recover. Despite a strong second-half push, Providence bested the Pioneers, 16-12, in a Tuesday afternoon road contest.  
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 1-3
Providence: 3-3
 
Top Performers:
Morgan O'Reilly: 5 goals, 1 assist, 6 SOG
Carson Spooner: 2 goals, 1 assist, 2 SOG
Sal Miccio: 2 assists
Johnny Morgan: 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 SOG, 1 GB
 
Goalies:
Alex Pazienza (SHU): (L, 1-2) 8 saves, 10 goals
Nicky LaBanca (SHU): 5 saves, 6 goals, 2 CT
Matt Murakami (PC): (W, 1-0) 6 saves, 12 goals
 
Up Next:
SHU remains on the road on Saturday with a 1 p.m. meeting at UMass Lowell.
 
Of Note:
PC's Jack Horrigan kicked off the scoring followed by a goal from SHU's Skyler Wilde who netted the only goal for the Pioneers in the first quarter. The Friars capitalized on Sacred Heart's scoring drought jumped to a large lead with nine-straight goals, 10-1. 
 
Sophomore Jake Garb stopped the bleeding at the 4:16 mark in the second quarter followed by a pair of goals from Conor Sullivan and Jake Ward to end the half, 11-4.   
 
Sullivan and Ward's goals at the end of the second quarter was part of a 6-0 push for the Pioneers to bring the game within four with 9:28 remaining in the third frame. 
 
The Pioneers outscored the Friars, 4-2, in the fourth quarter to get within four for a second time. However, time was not on SHU's side as the game came to its final score of 16-12. 
 
The Friars dominated the faceoff X, 23-9, and took advantage of SHU's penalties. PC netted four man-up goals out of its five opportunities, while the Pioneers were held to just one and could not capitalize.
 
Today's performance by O'Reilly marks the second consecutive game where he netted a career-high five goals. O'Reilly also posted five last game against Fairfield and now leads the team with 13 so far on the year.