MADISON, NJ (February 25, 2017) — The Vassar College men's lacrosse team (1-0) held off a late push by Drew University (0-1) to take the season-opener 6-5 at Ranger Stadium on Saturday.
 
The Brewers led by as many as 6-1 in the first half before the Rangers put on their rally caps to score the final four goals of the game.
 
Senior Sam Houston-Read and freshman Michael Mullen both registered four points on two goals and a pair of assists to lead the Brewers. Matthew Lowery and Drew Adams each netted a goal, while Patrick Gibbons dished out an assist.
 
Lowery was also dominant at the face-off position, going 10-of-14 on his way to grabbing a game-best eight groundballs. Eric Prezioso was also stellar on defense, forcing a game-high four turnovers to go along with two groundballs.
 
Matthew Boyd earned the win for Vassar, making five saves over the first 30 minutes, while Nate Sanders took the loss for Drew, making 17 saves over the full time, as the Brewers outshot the Rangers, 37-17. Erik Mikelinich also saw time in net, making three saves over the final 30 minutes of regulation.
 
The Brewers came out with energy, netting the only three goals of the first quarter. Houston-Read found Mullen for the first goal at the 4:27 mark, and less than 20 seconds later, Mullen fed Lowery for another quick goal, 2-0. Houston-Read also picked up his second point of the frame, scoring a goal, thanks to a pass from Gibbons.  
 
The Rangers gathered themselves between periods to net the first goal of the second stanza. Greg Swenson found Jack Crowley to cut the Brewers' lead to 3-1.
 
Vassar remained aggressive on offense, ripping off three shot attempts on the same possession before Houston-Read finally found the back of the net, thanks to a pass from Mullen, 4-1. After a solo goal by Adams, Houston-Read returned the favor, finding Mullen for his second score of the day, 6-1.
 
Drew's Ryan D'Alessandro scored an unassisted goal with eight seconds remaining in the half for the Rangers to trim their deficit to 6-2 going into intermission.
 
Both sides were held scoreless throughout the third period before Drew's offense caught fire in the fourth. Kevin Goettlich cut Vassar's lead in half, 6-3, with a solo goal at the 9:18 mark; Brendan Hamm found D'Alessandro to make it a 6-4 ballgame about five minutes later; and Seamus O'Connor concluded scoring with a solo goal at the 1:49 mark.
 
The Brewers return to Poughkeepsie for their home-opener against Oneonta on Wednesday, March 1. Faceoff from Gordon Field is set for 7 p.m.