Clark University

BOSTON, Mass. – Clark University men's lacrosse (1-14, 0-7 NEWMAC) traveled to Emerson (4-11, 1-6 NEWMAC) for the regular season finale for both teams. The Lions took an early advantage and withstood a late push from the Cougars to hold on for a 10-9 win at home.

How it Happened 

• Emerson struck first with a pair of goals in the opening six minutes of the game. The next six minutes generated chances for both teams, but timely saves kept it a two-goal lead.

• Clark broke through with 4:29 to play as junior Eric Aswad scored while man-down to get the Cougars on the board.

• First-year Luca Palleschi made a critical save with 39 seconds left in the quarter to keep the score at 2-1 after one.

• The Lions added two goals in the first two minutes of the second. After some back-and-forth play, Emerson scored three more times to build a six-goal edge.

• The Cougars responded with three goals in the final 3:25 of the half, starting with unassisted strikes from sophomore Michael Berman Annunziata and junior Jack Insalaco. Berman Annunziata would add another with 57 seconds left to make it 7-4 at the break.

• Clark kept the momentum after halftime, with senior Brayden Grainger scoring just 28 seconds into the half to cut the deficit to two.

• Both teams would score on the man-up, with Emerson striking first with 10:28 remaining before Aswad found junior Tate Gorman for the response.

• The Lions carried momentum into the fourth, scoring twice while surviving three shots from seniors Brett Newman and Thomas Michaud, including one by Newman that rang the cage.

• Michaud, Grainger, and junior Jason Shackley added shots on goal in the first two minutes of the fourth, but each was turned aside.

• Clark broke through with 9:11 remaining as sophomore Maxwell Biondi buried a shot in the net. Aswad cut the deficit to two with a goal three minutes later.

• The lead dropped to one with 4:18 remaining, as Grainger fired a pass from behind the net to Gorman for the finish.

• The Cougars won the ensuing faceoff and put a tying shot off the crossbar, but Emerson survived the late push and a penalty to secure the 10-9 win. 

Inside the Box Score

• Senior Kyle Palmieri finishes his career with two goals, 17 ground balls, and five caused turnovers.

• Senior Patrick O'Rourke went 13-for-19 at the faceoff X (.684) and finished the season at .575 (153-266), closing his career at .577 (338-585). He also scooped eight ground balls, bringing his career total to 205.

• Senior Brett Newman finishes his career with 17 goals, 16 assists, 114 ground balls, and 37 caused turnovers.

• Senior Brayden Grainger recorded a goal and an assist, finishing his career with three goals and five assists.

• Senior Lucas Cuda ends his career with four goals, five assists, 107 ground balls, and 76 caused turnovers.

• Senior Thomas Michaud finishes with 15 goals this season and 30 for his career, along with 12 assists and 39 ground balls.

• Palleschi played all 60 minutes in goal, making 13 saves to tie his collegiate best, marking the third time this season he has reached that total.