Noah Zeman and the Rivier men's lacrosse team made history on Wednesday with the program's first NCAA tourney game win at Merrill Field. (Photo courtesy of Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA – They got what they wanted — a few more days together.

Behind a nine-point performance from graduate student Michael Ference, the Rivier men’s lacrosse team earned its first-ever NCAA postseason victory with a 20-10 win over Maine Maritime on Wednesday at Joanne Merrill Field.

The victory extended the Raiders’ winning streak to 15 games and improved their record to 17-1, while the Mariners concluded their season at 10-6.

Rivier advances to the Second Round of the NCAA Championship and will travel on Saturday to Brunswick, Maine to face No. 8 Bowdoin, as ranked by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA). The opening faceoff is set for noon at Whittier Field.

“It’s the most amazing thing in the world, being able to play lacrosse late in the season, being with the guys you love,” Raider senior attackman Michael Zapatka said. “Being a senior, I love this team, and it just means the world to play lacrosse and earn more days like we’ve been preaching.”

Can it get any better for this team and program? Raiders head coach Jay Delanoy certainly thinks so.

“I think we started out well, there’s parts of the game we felt we should’ve played better, could’ve played better and have to play better in the next round to have any chance at all to be competitive,” Delanoy said. “I think we played well, and we’re happy with a victory in the NCAA Tournament.”

Rivier stormed out to a 9-0 lead to open the contest, fueled by goals from Sawyer Hall, Coby Mercier, James DelPrete, and hat tricks from Ference and Zapatka within the first 16 minutes of play.

What was working?

“Just the offense in general, our sets were working, we were clicking well, moving the ball very thoroughly and were able to find the back of the net,” Ference said.

The Mariners got on the board at the 12:20 mark of the second quarter, but Ferrence quickly responded with his fourth goal of the game to push Rivier’s lead to 10-1. Graduate student Connor Eck then added his name to the scoresheet, followed by Zapatka’s fourth goal with 5:38 remaining. Both teams found the net in the final minute of the half, sending the Raiders into halftime with a 14-2 lead.

Rivier opened the second half with quick strikes from Ferrence and Hall, but Maine Maritime answered with a pair of goals, including a man-up score. Senior Trevor Reilly found the back of the net late in the third quarter, giving the Raiders a 17-4 lead heading into the final frame. In the fourth, senior Chris Heitmiller netted two goals and junior Sean Callinan added one of his own, as the Raiders closed out a 20-10 victory.

The Raiders held a narrow 42-40 edge in shots and forced 22 turnovers while committing just 14. They also went 19-of-23 on clear attempts (82.6%) and collected 33 ground balls in the victory.

Zapatka followed Ferrence’s nine-point effort with five points of his own, scoring four goals and adding an assist, along with three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Mercier also tallied five points, recording one goal and four assists. Heitmiller, a Bishop Guertin alum, contributed three points and two ground balls, while Eck and Hall each registered two goals.

Defensively, sophomore Cole Ronalter and senior Joseph O’Reilly led the Raiders with two caused turnovers apiece, while six other Raiders each forced one turnover. Senior Parker Williams recorded a team-high five ground balls, with graduate student Adam Hailey close behind with four.

Graduate student goalkeeper Sawyer Gagnon recorded nine saves, improving his record to 15-1 on the season.

This is all the culmination of the work Delanoy & Co. have done over the last 14 years.

“Got here a long time ago,” Delanoy said. “Every class that’s come in has left a legacy and a new set of standards to be lived up to,” Delanoy said. “We talked about building a foundation, and ironically in 2019 we won our first playoff game when the foundation to this building was in the ground and nothing on top of it. I call them the foundation to everything that’s been built since.”