BRISTOL, R.I. - The RWU Men's Lacrosse team won The Commonwealth Coast Conference Quarterfinal contest Saturday, defeating the visiting Salve Regina Seahawks, 12-11. RWU junior Jim Tancredi (Bloomingburg, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal with 2:17 remaining in the contest to advance the Hawks into the TCCC Semifinals Wednesday.

Tancredi's marker snapped a three-goal scoring streak for Salve Regina and gave RWU the 12-10 lead. After winning the ensuing face-off, RWU called a time-out to set up its strategy, but RWU turned the ball over with 1:19 remaining allowing Seahawks sophomore Chris Walker (Marshfield, Mass.) the chance to beat RWU goalkeeper Tyler Roebuck (Montgomery, Mass.) with 56 seconds remaining, setting up a critical face-off.

RWU junior Austin Fehringer (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) dominated the face-off circle all day, winning 19 of 26 face-offs up to that point, but the Seahawks graduate student Cody LaFerriere (Brookside, N.J.) earned this final face-off victory, as senior Nathaniel Burns (Sandwich, Mass.) gathered the ground ball to begin the offensive possession.

With 27 seconds on the clock, Salve Regina junior Evan Gates (Ridge, N.J.) fired a shot wide, but the team maintained possession. Six seconds later RWU forced a turnover and Roebuck eventually gathered the ground ball, securing the win for RWU.

Nine different players scored for the Hawks, led by sophomore Justin Leddy (Sea Girt, N.J.) who registered three goals and added one assist. The Seahawks were led by Walker who finished with five goals and two assists, while also recording nine ground balls.

RWU seemed to gain control of the game after a 5-1 third quarter put the hosts ahead 11-7 with just 15 minutes remaining. Two goals in the first 1:07 of the fourth quarter put the Seahawks right back into the game before they pulled to within one with their third-straight goal at 9:25.

After 7:08 of scoreless lacrosse, Tancredi would beat junior goalkeeper Brett Pimental (East Falmouth, Mass.) with the eventual game-winner. Pimental finished the game with 11 saves and seven goals against in 47:21 after replacing freshman starter Christopher Connors (Garden City, N.Y.), who registered two saves and five goals against in the first 12:39. Roebuck finished with 25 saves in 60 minutes for RWU.

The first half was evenly played leading to a 6-6 score at halftime. RWU senior Connor McCabe (Stony Brook, N.Y.) tallied the game's first goal just 35 seconds in, but back-to-back goals by Salve Regina gave the visitors the early 2-1 lead. RWU stormed back with four-straight markers to close out the first quarter ahead, 5-2. RWU added another to start the second quarter before Salve Regina scored four-straight goals to tie the game at the break.

The win extends RWU's winning streak to nine games and improves the Hawks record to 10-6 overall. Salve Regina's season concludes with a final record of 9-8.

RWU advances in the postseason to face top-seeded Endicott College Wednesday in a 4 p.m. contest. The Gulls advanced to the semifinals with their 16-4 win today over the University of New England. In their last meeting, March 27, Endicott defeated RWU, 15-6. This marks the third-straight year RWU travels to face Endicott in the TCCC Semifinals.

Courtesy of Roger Williams sports information