By Julian Markese
Sports Editor
The lacrosse team’s NE10 Tournament dreams were ruined by Bentley University on Saturday, April 25. They lost 17-12 at Jess Dow Field as hosts of their first-ever home playoff game.
The Owls could not overcome a seven-goal onslaught in the first quarter by Bentley, whom they had beaten for the first time in program history earlier in the season.
“They got some goals early, and things just did not go our way. They had a couple of second and third-chance goals that swung the momentum so heavily,” Head Coach Kevin Siedlecki said.
The Owls implemented a different defense than they had been using throughout the year.
The plan was to be more compact and play with less pressure on the ball, but Bentley’s early goals forced Siedlecki to pivot.
“We had to change up the defense. We had to do something to build up some confidence,” Siedlecki said.
Attacker Macy Vail, a senior, scored twice to start the second quarter. The team came alive. By halftime, the Owls were within four.
In the second half, in part thanks to the effort and one-woman clearances of midfielder Breya Montague, a sophomore, the Owls came within two goals.
The score was 10-8, the closest it was all game, for four minutes in the third quarter.
“It was 10-8 for a long time. And we had a few opportunities to make it 10-9. If you get it to 10-9 after being down 7-1, it’s a different game,” Siedlecki said. “We just didn’t get it done.”
Bentley scored four straight goals. With 10 minutes left, the Owls were faced with an insurmountable six-goal deficit. Still, the team fought to the bitter end.
Midfielder Taryn Ugrin, a junior, scored with only six seconds left to cut the lead to five.
Goalkeeper Caelan Connors, a senior, who won the NE10 goalie of the year award, made five saves on 21 shots, a slight downturn from her typical performance.
In contrast, the Bentley goalkeeper saved 15. The Owls’ season may not be over just yet. They will await seeding for the NCAA Tournament.
The team is currently ranked No. 25 in the country and No. 6 in the East Region. Only six teams from the east will make the tournament.
“It’s gonna take a minute to regroup, but I think we’re going to get a chance to play again,” Siedlecki said.
Even if their season is over, the 2026 campaign was unequivocally the most successful season in the history of the university’s lacrosse program.
The team hosted an NE10 Tournament game for the first time. They knocked off two opponents, Saint Anselm College and Bentley, whom they had never beaten before.
They won more games this season than any Owls team before them.
“We just have to be really proud,” Siedlecki said. “Whatever happens on a given day does not define your identity. It’s about the long-term pattern and the habits that have been developed.”
