Despite hat tricks from attackmen Alex Buckley '07 and Dave Madeira '07, the men's lacrosse team was unable to upset No. 7 University of Massachusetts-Amherst, falling to the Minutemen 13-9 Saturday at Stevenson Field.
It was a hard-fought contest, as each team appeared to be at the top of its game. In the end, however, UMass was able to utilize its experience and blazing speed to drop Brown to 2-3 on the season. Despite the setback, the Bears seemed satisfied with their performance and believe it was the latest step in their rapid improvement.
"I thought we actually played very well and showed that we're getting better. We didn't make a whole lot of mistakes except allowing some transition goals," said Head Coach Scott Nelson. "If that's the seventh-ranked team in the country then we're not that far away from being that good."
Bruno had both Buckley and Madeira healthy for the first time this season, and their impact was felt from the opening faceoff. Buckley, playing in his first game of the year, opened the scoring with his first tally of the season and then assisted on Madeira's eighth goal of the year, putting Brown up 2-0.
Following Madeira's score, UMass showed why it deserves its high ranking. Taking advantage of their superior quickness, the Minutemen scored four unanswered goals - most of which were in transition and generated from faceoffs - and finished the period with a 4-2 advantage.
Both Buckley and Madeira scored in the second quarter as well, reinforcing the effect their presence had on the offense.
"I had a pretty good preseason and played well in the fall, and (this) being my first game back, I wanted to make an impact," Buckley said. "After I (got by) my man once I figured I might as well keep going."
However, UMass netted three scores of its own in the quarter. The Minutemen attackers often ran right around the Bears' defenders on their way to the goal. Once they neared the net, UMass' excellent passing led to easy looks and goals.
Down 7-4 at the break, Brown came out strong after intermission with goals from Buckley and attackman Will Davis '07. Unfortunately, the Bears could not get the elusive tying goal. UMass showed off an impressive man-up unit, converting on both its opportunities in the period and netting an even-strength goal as well. Co-captain Kyle Wailes '06 scored midway through the period, and Madeira scored his third goal of the day toward the end, making it 10-8 after 45 minutes.
The final period belonged to the visitors from Amherst, who finally pulled away. Brett Garber scored two of his four goals in the quarter, and the UMass defense clamped down, allowing just a goal from midfielder and co-captain Will McGettigan '06 in the quarter. The Minutemen outscored the hosts 3-1 en route to the 13-9 win.
"We took good shots and good possessions," Nelson said of Brown's performance. "They just grouped together goals more than we did with those two little gaps in the first and fourth quarters. They had a couple spurts that were too long and too productive."
With Buckley and Madeira healthy and pacing the attack, Bruno's offense should be a force to be reckoned with the rest of the season. The attack could improve even more once the younger players gain experience down the road.
"I think they're coming along really well," Buckley said of the younger attackmen. "Dave and I have some experience, so we have that advantage of teaching them. It's going to take some games for those guys to figure out what Division I lacrosse is, and I think we're going to be fine once that happens."
The defense did struggle at times Saturday, allowing 13 goals, but it was not an entirely dismal performance. The Bears struggled mainly with fast breaks, but they did not struggle with defending the Minutemen's base offense.
"They scored the majority of their goals in transition, but we didn't have too much trouble with their settled offense," McGettigan said. "Our coaches have been stressing that the middies pick up their guys from the inside-out and not look at the ball, which is something we'll work on in practice."
Nelson said he was surprised at the speed of the Minutemen's transition offense and will make sure to be more prepared next time he faces that type of offense.
"UMass didn't have that kind of transition the last time we saw them," he said. "A couple of their goals came off the faceoff, which we haven't seen a lot of this year. We have to make sure we're getting back and picking up better."
Over spring break, the Bears travel to the Midwest for their final two non-conference games of the season against the Ohio State University on March 25 and the University of Notre Dame on March 29. Bruno begins its Ivy season at Yale on April 8.
