Box Score RINDGE, N.H. – The Bentley men's lacrosse team opened its Northeast-10 slate with a 13-5 road victory over Franklin Pierce on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Alex Astarita (Bedford, N.H./Bishop Guertin) led the offensive effort with three goals and two assists.
Three other players had two goals for the Falcons, who have won their 2nd straight game; junior Matt Sanford (Stratham, N.H./Bow), sophomore Sam Hurley (Medfield, Mass./Medfield), and freshman Nigel Reiff (Medfield, Mass./Medfield).
Senior Max Adler (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Northfield Mt. Hermon) dominated in the face-off circle to give Bentley possession with 19 of 21 wins, and 15 ground balls.
A big 1st half helped propel the Falcons, where they outscored the Ravens 10-2. They opened the 1st quarter with three goals inside the opening seven minutes. The goals came from Chris Wiggins (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough), John Wheeler (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) and Matt Brooks (Brunswick, Maine/Phillips Exeter).
Sanford scored a man-up goal at the 5:43 mark, and Hurley found the back of the net with seven seconds remaining as Bentley led 5-1 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Bentley closed the 2nd quarter strong, as they scored four goals in the final 4:40, to lead 10-2. David Phelps (Bedford, N.H./Bedford), Hurley, Reiff and a man-up goal by Sanford were the goals.
Astarita struck for two goals in the 3rd quarter to give Bentley a 12-2 lead going into the final 15 minutes.
In goal, junior Ben Bath (Kennebunkport, Maine/Kennebunk) made nine saves to earn the win.
Now 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in the NE10, Bentley will be back in action on Saturday at Assumption.
