Nashua's Chris Heitmiller had a couple of key goals in Rivier's 8-5 win at Dean College on Tuesday. (File photo)

FRANKLIN, Mass. — The Rivier University men’s lacrosse team kept its winning ways in tact on Tuesday, beating Dean College 8-5 to improve to 11-3 overall, 7-2 in the GNAC.

The Raiders would get things going within the first minute of the game on an unassisted goal by Jeffrey Potter (N. Bennington, VT). Chris Heitmiller (Nashua, NH) would tack on a second Riv goal off of a feed from Potter. Dean would net one in the first quarter by Diego Alvarez-Segee to come within in one goal, 2-1. Heitmiller would end the quarter with his second goal of the game to give the visiting team a 3-1 advantage going into the second quarter.

Nicholas Tavares (Danvers, MA) would extend the Raiders lead at the start of the second to 4-1. The second Bulldog goal came from Alec Speirs on a man-up opportunity with 4:42 left in the half. Rivier would tack on one more before the break. This one was credited to Connor Eck (Franklin, MA) in his own hometown.

The Third quarter saw the most production from the Bulldogs offense as they outscored Riv 3-2 to bring the game to 7-5. Alvarez-Segee started it off with his second goal of the game. Followed by Speirs second as well, to bring the hosting school within two.

Coby Mercier of Boscawen would find the back of the net for the first time in this one to stave off the Bulldogs rally. Eck added to the Raiders lead to make it a 7-4 contest. Dean would get the final tally in the quarter on a Jason Richard score.

Rivier would score the lone goal in the fourth quarter. Potter would end the game the way it started, with him finding the back of the net for his second goal of the game.

Sawyer Gagnon got the win (10-3) after making 13 saves on 18 shots faced.

Riv doesn’t play again until it hosts Anna Maria next Tuesday.

SOFTBALL

RIVIER, NEC SPLIT

NEC won the opener, 8-3, but the Raiders bounced back in Game 2 for a 5-2 win in Henniker.

In the opener, the Pilgrims would start the scoring off in the bottom of the first on a sac fly. They would add on to make it 2-0 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single up the middle by Emma Lopez.

Christina Panagiotopoulos would get one back in the fourth on a solo shot to center field. New England would have their biggest bottom half of an inning following the home run, scoring five runs in the fourth. Grace Giesler would bring in two on a double to left field. The very next batter, Destiny Helmedach, would go yard to left center field, bringing in Giesler and herself.

Rivier would have a two-run inning in the fifth but wouldn’t be able to close the gap. Hayley Rapaglia (Methuen, MA) would bring in the second Raider run on a single to left center field. Avery Nelson (Methuen, MA) would plate the last run for Riv on another single through the left side.

Jocelin Vachon would get the win (2-0) after going four innings with four hits, three earned runs, and three strikeouts.

Sydney Greeno would get the loss (5-8) after going three innings allowing 13 hits and eight earned runs. Olivia Olsen would get the save after pitching in three scoreless innings with just four hits allowed.

In the nightcap, The Raiders would go up 2-0 in the top of the second and never trail in the rest of the game. Pelham’s Christina Louh would plate one on a fielder’s choice. Kylee Caetano would do the same to score the second Rivier run. The Pilgrims would get one in the bottom half of the inning to make it a one-run game after Ashleigh Lemay reached on a single to left center to plate one.

Rivier (14-18) would have a three-run fifth inning courtesy of one swing from the hottest bat in the lineup for the Raiders in Panagiotopoulos (2 for 4, 3 RBIs, run scored) to left center. New England would get one more to finish the game in the bottom of the seventh on a Taylor Maher single.

Rapaglia would get the win (2-0) in the circle after going all seven innings. She allowed ten hits with one earned run and three strikeouts.

Rivier is at Saint Joe’s of Maine on Saturday at noon.