Rivier's Michael Ference, showed here earlier in the season, scored four goals to help the Raiders clinch the third seed in the upcoming GNAC tourney. (Photo courtesy of Rivier University)

NASHUA — The Rivier men’s lacrosse team clinched the third place seed in the GNAC standing after finishing up the regular season Wednesday night with a 9-8 win over conference newcomer Dean College at Merrill Field on a late Parker Williams goal.

The Raiders (13-3, 8-2 GNAC) will host a GNAC quarterfinal game Saturday at 4 p.m. against an opponent to be determined.

The fourth quarter saw the visiting Bulldogs (10-4, 6-4 GNAC) tie it up for the fifth time with just 2:41 left after a fourth Diego Alvarez-Segee goal. Chris Wendt would net the tying goal to get the score to 8-8. The very next faceoff was won by Rivier’s Williams, who ran down the field and ripped a shot that bounced over the goaltender’s head for the game-winner.

Rivier got four goals from Salem’s Michael Ference in what was a see-saw battle. The first quarter ended in a 2-2 draw with Rivier striking first on a man-up opportunity from Nashua’s Chris Heitmiller followed by Ference’s first of the game. The Bulldogs would put up two quick goals back-to-back with just 4:36 left in the quarter. Diego Alvarez-Segee was responsible for both Dean scores.

The second quarter Rivier got one up on the Bulldogs after a back and forth scoring bought. Coby Mercier started the scoring off for the Raiders. Cameron D’Angelo would answer right back for Dean, tying it back up at 3-3. Ference would then capitalize on a man-up opportunity with 7:48 to go in the half. However, D’Angelo notched his second goal of the game just under two minutes later to tie it up yet again. Ference would end the half with his third goal of the game to put the Raiders up 5-4 at the break.

The second half got underway, with Rivier adding one more to their lead as Jeffery Potter got involved with his first score of the day. Dean would go on another short run of two goals coming from Grayson Colvin and Alvarez-Segee. Now knotted back up at 6-6, Heitmiller would strike with his second of the game to regain the lead for the home squad. Ference would add on one more to bump the Raiders lead back up to two.

Sawyer Gagnon (Gorham, ME) picked up win number 12 on the season after saving seven shots on net.

SOFTBALL

EMMANUEL SWEEPS RAIDERS

The Saints took the pair 3-0 and 9-4 at Raider Diamond. In the opener,Emmanuel was able to capitalize on Raider mistakes to pick up two of their three runs. Grace Orcutt would be the only Saints hitter to pick up an RBI in the contest. Olivia Conti led Emmanuel’s offense with two hits.

Tianna Dawe (W, 10-5) went all seven innings for the Saints in the circle allowing just four hits and striking out eight.

Windham’s Nicole Capra had two of the four Raider hits.

In the nightcap, Dawe started and picked up another win for the Saints in the circle, going four innings, allowing zero hits, and striking out six.

Offensively, the Saints outmatched the Raiders with 11 hits. Conti had a three hit game, racking up four RBIs and two runs scored. Grace Orcutt and Kiana Hinson added four more hits for the Saints with two apiece. Orcutt also pushed across two more runs for Emmanuel.

Capra, Mason’s Amanda Atkinson, and Sarah McCluskey all had two hits in the ball game.

Rivier will be back on Friday for senior day against Fisher College at 6 and 8 p.m.