Rivier's Michael Ference (10), shown last spring, picked up his 300th career point on Wednesday in a rout of Curry. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

MILTON, Mass. — Graduate student Michael Ference recorded his 300th career point as the Rivier men’s lacrosse team cruised past Curry on Wednesday afternoon, 13-2, at Katz Field.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 4-1, while the Colonels fell to 0-8.

Ference opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game, finishing a feed from graduate student Coby Mercier to give Rivier an early 1-0 lead at the 11:46 mark of the first quarter. Senior classmates Chris Heitmiller and Michael Zapatka then combined for the next three goals over a 4:30 stretch, extending the Raiders’ lead to 4-0. Graduate student Connor Eck kept the momentum going with two goals in eight seconds, pushing the advantage to 6-0. Heitmiller added his second goal of the day before senior Trevor Reilly recorded his first point of the season, sending Rivier into the second quarter with an 8-1 lead.

Heitmiller secured his hat trick just over four minutes into the second quarter, and Zapatka followed with his third tally of the day in the final minute of the half, giving the Raiders a 11-1 lead at the break.

Rivier tacked on two more goals in the second half, with junior Sean Callinan and Eck each finding the net. Eck’s goal, early in the fourth quarter, completed his hat trick and sealed the 13-2 win for the Raiders.

Zapatka led the offensive effort with six points on three goals and three assists. Heitmiller added five points with three goals and two assists, while Ference contributed four points. Mercier played the role of maestro. Eck and Callinan finished with three and two points, respectively. Graduate student defender Adam Hailey anchored the defense with two caused turnovers.

Graduate student goaltender Sawyer Gagnon made 16 saves on 17 shots for a .941 save percentage. Senior Samuel Tibbetts added four saves on five shots, posting an 80% save rate in 15 minutes of action.

The Raiders return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Saturday, March 22, when they play host to New England Col. at Merrill Field. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

SALVE REGINA 17, RIVIER 7

With the loss at Merrill Field, the Raiders fell to 2-3, while the Seahawks improved to 2-4.

Salve Regina was the first to put a tally up on the board, finding the back of the net 45 seconds into the game. Rivier responded 36 seconds later as senior Sarah Lachance worked her way around three defenders to even the contest, 1-1. The Seahawks responded by scoring six unanswered goals to close out the opening frame, 7-1.

Lachance took charge in the opening 1:43 of the second quarter, completing the early hat trick with her first coming off a dish from senior Cassie Hemmerdinger and took it into her own hands to cut the Seahawks’ lead to four. Salve Regina regained its six-goal lead just over the halfway mark of the quarter. A free position goal from sophomore Sofia Cebrero cut the lead to five with 3:57 remaining in the frame. As time expired in the first half, the Seahawks once again took a six-goal lead, 10-4.

The third quarter was not as much of an offensive showcase as the first half was. The Seahawks scored 4:42 seconds into the third quarter, but Rivier countered with a goal of their own as Lachance logged her fourth of the contest. With 3:44 remaining, Salve Regina took a 12-5 lead, and the score remained that way at the end of the quarter.

Hemmerdinger and Lachance each added a tally to the scoreboard, but the Seahawks countered with five fourth quarter goals to take the matchup, 17-7.

Lachance finished the game with a team-high five goals and draw controls with Hemmerdinger and Cebrero adding one goal each.

Senior goaltenders Rachel Hinkley and Kylie Coupal combined for 10 saves on the night.

The Raiders return to Merrill Field Saturday versus Lasell for their third Great Northeast Athletic Conference matchup of the 2025 campaign. Opening draw is scheduled for 11 a.m.