LAX Falls to Becker in NECC Finals

NEW LONDON, Conn. – A hot first quarter spurred second-seeded Becker College to a 12-8 victory over top-seeded Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon in the finals of the 2015 New England Collegiate Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship.

The Hawks (8-8 overall) claimed their first NECC title with the help of a big day from Blake Boutiette, who scored a game-high four goals to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Avyay Chaganty chipped in with three goals and Daniel Johnson added two scores and two assists. Goalie Anthony Jordan made 11 saves and was named the tournament's most valuable player.

A.J. Fialkowski netted a hat trick and handed out two assists to lead the Mariners (7-9 overall). Tyler Desances added a pair of goals while McCarthy Brodaski contributed a goal and an assist.

Boutiette scored twice in the opening 2:33 to set the tone for the Hawks. Mitchell responded with a goal by Desances to cut the deficit in half, but 17 seconds later Johnson took a feed from Bryan Parsons and scored his first of the contest to put Becker on top 3-1.

Mitchell scored again at the 3:28 mark as Tyler Kradas pulled the home side back within one. However, the Hawks dominated the final minutes of the first quarter by beating the Mariners in transition. Becker scored four goals—including two more from Boutiette—in the final 2:49 of the stanza to seize control.

The Hawks didn't score again until the second half, but Mitchell didn't make up much ground in the second quarter. With Mitchell on a man advantage, Desances tallied with 5:18 remaining in the half, but Becker still held a 7-3 lead when the whistle sounded at intermission.

Becker outscored Mitchell 4-2 in the third quarter to take a six-goal lead into the final 15 minutes. Francis Lanni spectacular individual effort, weaving his way up the field for a marker with 36 seconds remaining in the period while the Hawks were a man down.

Matthew Genkos gave Becker its largest lead of the day with a goal in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Mitchell tallied three goals in the final 12:02, but the Hawks played the possession game for a good chunk of the quarter to wind the clock down.

Parsons led all players with 13 ground balls while Ryan Kearney added 10 and caused three turnovers. Will Ryan-Johnson led the Mariners with five ground balls.

Becker held a commanding 51-25 advantage in shots, although shots on goal (24-19) were much closer. Mitchell goalie JD LeMay finished with 12 saves and earned a spot on the All-Tournament team along with Desances and Jordan Cook.

NECC All-Tournament Team

Anthony Jordan, Becker College (Most Valuable Player)
Blake Boutiette, Becker College
Ryan Kearney, Becker College
JD LeMay, Mitchell College
Jordan Cook, Mitchell College 
Tyler Desances, Mitchell College
Peter Leighton, Regis College
Josh Bazail, Regis College
Dan Knupfer, Daniel Webster College
Brandyn Torrey, Daniel Webster College