Spring sports close with a bang: Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse

MEN’S LACROSSE

After making the PAC playoffs for the first time last year, the men’s lacrosse team has quickly established themselves in the conference, with a 7-1 record and a second seed playoff spot in the team’s third season as a varsity sport.

Eastern’s only PAC loss this season came against nationally ranked Cabrini. However, the loss did not slow down the Eagles, as they bounced back to go undefeated in the rest of their PAC matches.

The Eagles will host their semifinal match against third-seeded Centenary on April 30th at 4 p.m. Earlier this season, Eastern defeated the Cyclones 8-4. If the Eagles can beat Centenary again, they will make their first championship game appearance in team history on May 3rd.

The majority of Eastern’s offense this season came from three veteran juniors. Nick Mandia lead the team in total points with 22 goals and 28 assists, while Ben O’Donnell scored a team-high 32 goals during the regular season. The team’s defense is centered around junior goalie Zach Rivest, who posted 181 saves in only 15 games.

WOMEN’S?LACROSSE

Attempting to claim their third consecutive PAC championship title, the women’s lacrosse team is gearing up for another successful postseason. With a conference record of 9-1, the team earned the second seed in the conference and a first-round bye.

Neighbor and rival Cabrini handed the Eagles their only PAC loss in a tough 6-8 match. Cabrini claimed the regular season victory between the two powerhouses in 2007 as well, only to have the Eagles take the championship title. If both teams win their semifinal games, the championship match should be very exciting.

Eastern played third-seed Gwynedd-Mercy on April 29th for a spot in the May 3rd finals. During the regular season, the Eagles handily beat the Griffins 17-4.

In contrast to previous years, several Eagles have posted high offensive numbers this season. First-year attack Grace Griffith leads all scorers with 68 total points from 47 goals and 21 assists. Juniors Erin Reimel, Katie Choquette and Jessie Basch have also come up big, combining for 86 goals and 50 assists. Junior transfer Kim Campbell has been a steady fixture in goal, with 124 saves this year.