Rivier's Keegan McGaheran tries to move on the Albertus Magnus defense during Saturday's game at Joanne Merrill Field. (Courtesy photo by Katie Morrison-O'Day/Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA – For the second straight home game, the Rivier men’s lacrosse team sealed a victory in overtime, downing Saint Joseph (Conn.) 10-9 Saturday afternoon at Joanne Merrill Field.

The Blue Jays scored twice in the final 3:25 to force overtime.

After senior Owen McDuffie won the opening faceoff of overtime, Henri Brochu ended the game on the first possession, scoring his fourth goal 55 seconds into the extra period.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 13-0 (9-0 GNAC), while the Blue Jays fell to 10-2 (7-1 GNAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams opened with a fast pace, combining for seven goals in the first quarter. Sophomore James DelPrete connected with first-year Andrew Nee at 13:29 to start the scoring. First-year Henri Brochu doubled the lead on an assist from sophomore Aiden Conley. USJ answered with three goals in a three-minute stretch to move in front. First-year Conor Walsh tied it with 27 seconds left however, first-year Colin Foley found Nee 10 seconds later to give Rivier a 4-3 lead after one.

The second quarter featured just one goal despite seven total shots on goal. After nearly 15 minutes of scoreless play, Conley extended the Raiders’ lead heading into halftime.

USJ cut the margin to one at 13:16 of the third. Rivier responded with consecutive goals from Brochu, assisted by DelPrete and Walsh. USJ converted a man-up chance before sophomore Mason Schultz scored at 7:34. The Blue Jays added one more late in the frame to make it a two-goal game entering the fourth.

USJ struck first in the fourth, scoring just under five minutes in. Schultz answered with his second of the day, a man-up goal, to restore the two-goal cushion.

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

Brochu paced the offense with five points on four goals and an assist…Junior Cole Ronalter scooped a team-high five ground balls…Defensively, Foley caused four turnovers…Sophomore goalkeeper Jake Lydon made 12 saves in the crease for the Raiders.

UP NEXT

The Raiders return to the field Wednesday for a GNAC matchup with Saint Joseph’s (Me.) at 6 p.m. at the SJC Athletic Complex.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

RIVIER 18, ALBERTUS MAGNUS 0

The Rivier women’s lacrosse team rolled against Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Albertus Magnus at Joanne Merrill Field to improve to 7-7 (5-5 GNAC), while the Falcons dropped to 4-10 (1-8 GNAC).

Rivier controlled the opening draw and never let up, scoring eight unanswered goals in the first quarter. Junior Sofia Cebrero opened the scoring, followed by back-to-back unassisted goals from first-year Olivia Wheeler. Cebrero added two more in the frame, with her second marking her 100th career goal. Sophomore Keegan McGaheran, senior Ashley Talbot, and first-year Emma Finch each found the net down the stretch as the Raiders built an 8-0 lead.

The Raiders netted five more goals in the second, continuing to control possession and limit Albertus Magnus’ opportunities. Junior Shaelyn Burke opened the quarter with an unassisted goal, followed by tallies from senior Bailey Carroll and first-year Alissa Eddy. McGaheran added her second of the game off a feed from sophomore Lilian Wojcicki, and Finch capped the half with a woman-up goal assisted by first-year Averie Proulx.

The third quarter featured a slower pace, with Rivier still controlling play. Burke scored off a Talbot assist midway through the frame, and sophomore Brooke Carter added a woman-up goal later in the quarter off a helper from eddy to extend the lead, 15-0.

Rivier closed out the game with three goals in the fourth. Talbot scored off an assist from first-year Kaycie Hudon early in the quarter. Sophomore Hannah Larson followed with an unassisted goal, and Wojcicki added a woman-up goal late off a Talbot assist for her first goal of her collegiate career and to secure the 18-0 shutout.

Thirteen different Raiders recorded a point in the contest, including 11 unique goal scorers…Eddy led the way defensively with four caused turnovers and four ground balls…First-year Chloe Waldron totaled four draw controls.

First-year goalkeeper Arrianna Imbriano stopped two shots in her first career shutout.

The Raiders return to action Tuesday for a conference match at Colby-Sawyer. The opening draw is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Sally Shaw Veitch Track & Field.

BASEBALL

RAIDERS SWEEP NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE

The Rivier baseball team defeated New England College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader at Harvey Woods Field. With the result, the Raiders improved to 10-11 (5-3 GNAC), while the Pilgrims dropped to 7-20 (5-7 GNAC).

Rivier 8, New England College 3 (7 inn.)

After two scoreless innings, the Raiders broke through in the third, plating five runs. Senior Nathan Innerfield sparked the rally with a double to left-center, driving in junior Colton Colleran. Senior Dylan Aliberti followed with a walk, and Innerfield swiped third to put runners on the corners. Junior Liam Stott delivered an RBI single to keep things rolling. With two outs, sophomore David Miller came through with a two-RBI triple, and sophomore Alex Gallicano capped the inning with an RBI single up the middle to bring Miller home.

Rivier added on in the fourth, plating two more runs as junior Sebastien Reis delivered a two-RBI single to score Innerfield and Colleran, extending the lead to 7-0.

The Raiders kept the bats going in the fifth, adding another run as Innerfield reached on a fielder’s choice to bring Gallicano home, making it 8-0.

The Pilgrims pushed across three runs in the final inning, but the Raiders held on for an 8-3 victory.

Innerfield went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, with two doubles.

Reis went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and a double…Miller had a two run triple as well as a run scored…Senior Anthony Morro earned the win, tossing 6.1 innings while striking out two and allowing just two runs.

Rivier 14, New England ColLege 3 (8 inn.)

After the first inning, the score was tied 1-1 as Stott grounded out to bring Innerfield home.

Aliberti delivered a two-RBI single in the second, and Colleran followed with a two-RBI single in the third to give the Raiders a 5-1 advantage.

In the fifth, Reis reached on a single that turned into extra bases on an error, allowing sophomore Jayce Martinez and Innerfield to score and make it 7-1.

New England College plated two runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to 7-3, closing out their scoring.

The Raiders responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Martinez doubled to score senior Owen Medlock, Colleran followed with a two-RBI double to bring in Martinez and Miller, and Gallicano later came home on a wild pitch to make it 11-3.

In the eighth, Reis doubled to left field to score Colleran and Gallicano. Stott then delivered the final RBI single to trigger the run rule, securing a 14-3 win for the Raiders.

Colleran went 3-of-5 with three runs scored and three RBI while Innerfield went 3-of-4 with three runs scored…Stott and Martinez each recorded a stolen base…Colleran, Innerfield, Reis, Medlock, and Martinez all tallied doubles.

The Raiders return to action on today for a conference doubleheader at Colby-Sawyer. First pitch is set for 12 p.m., with game two scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Kelsey Baseball Field.

SOFTBALL

RAIDERS SPLITS AT MICHELL

The Rivier softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader against Mitchell at Alumni Field in New London, Conn., earning a 10-4 extra-innings victory in the opener before falling in a thriller 11-10 contest in game two.

With the split, the Raiders moved to 9-13 (6-2 GNAC) on the season, while the Mariners shifted to 12-13-1 (5-5 GNAC)

Rivier 10, Mitchell 4 (9 inn.)

Rivier struck early in the first inning as senior Olivia Couto delivered a two-RBI double to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead.

The Raiders added another run in the fourth on an RBI double from first-year Emma Politz to extend the lead to 3-0. Mitchell responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to even the score at 3-3.

Rivier regained the lead in the sixth as senior Kylee Caetano drove in a run to make it 4-3.The Mariners tied the game in the seventh, forcing extra innings.The Raiders erupted in the ninth inning, scoring six runs highlighted by a two-RBI double from junior Sophia Quinlan and additional RBI hits from junior Liv Harnish, Politz, and Caetano.

Politz and Caetano led the offense with four hits apiece while Couto drove in three runs, while Quinlan added two RBI. Rivier totaled 16 hits in the contest.

Senior Hayley Rapaglia earned the win in relief, tossing five strong innings and allowing just one run

Mitchell 11, Rivier 10 (8 Innings)

In the nightcap, Mitchell took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a Rivier miscue. The Raiders responded with a six-run third inning, fueled by RBI hits from Caetano, Couto, senior Avry Nelson, and Quinlan.

Rivier extended its lead to 9-3 in the fourth behind timely hitting and aggressive base running. The Mariners chipped away, including a two-run home run in the fifth and a three-run sixth to cut into the deficit.

Rivier added an insurance run in the seventh, but Mitchell answered with two runs in the bottom half to tie the game at 10-10.

Mitchell completed the comeback in the eighth with a walk-off RBI single to secure the 11-10 win.

Caetano led the Raiders with three hits and an RBI…Couto and Nelson each recorded three RBI in the game…Rivier finished with 14 hits in the contest.

Rivier continues GNAC play with a pair of games today at Roberto Clemente Field in Boston, Mass. First pitch against the Saints of Emmanuel College is set for 12 p.m.