Men’s Lacrosse Secures Thrilling 7–6 LEC Victory Over Warriors
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Eastern Conn. St. (2-5, 1-3) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
|
Salem St. (8-3, 3-1) | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
THE BASICS
Salem State 7 vs. Eastern Connecticut State 6
Records:
Eastern Connecticut State Warriors (2-5)
Salem State Vikings (8-3)
Location: Salem, Mass. - Alumni Field
Date: Saturday April 4th, 2026
THE LEAD
In a back-and-forth LEC battle, the Salem State men's lacrosse team held off Eastern Connecticut State University to secure a 7–6 victory, marking the first time in program history the Vikings have defeated the Warriors.
After trailing 3–1 early, the Vikings closed the first half on a 3–0 run and added three more goals in the third to build a 7–3 lead. The Warriors rallied late with three fourth-quarter goals, but Salem State's defense stood strong in the final moments to secure the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a thrilling back-and-forth LEC conference matchup, the Salem State Vikings edged out the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors with a historic 7–6 victory.
The Warriors came out firing in the first quarter, striking first with two early goals to take a quick 2–0 lead. Just when it seemed like Eastern Connecticut would carry that momentum comfortably into the second, the Vikings found a spark—netting a crucial goal with just three seconds remaining in the quarter to cut the deficit to 2–1.
Eastern Connecticut wasted no time regaining control in the second quarter, scoring early to extend their lead to 3–1. However, the tide quickly shifted as Salem State surged back against the Warriros. The Vikings rattled off three unanswered goals to close out the half, shutting down the Warriors offensively and taking a 4–3 lead into halftime.
Fueled by momentum, Salem State dominated the third quarter, adding three consecutive goals to stretch their advantage to 7–3. Despite the Vikings' strong push, the Warriors managed to stay within distance, finding the back of the net once late in the quarter to make it 7–4 heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter belonged to Eastern Connecticut, as they held down defensively and kept the Vikings scoreless. The Warriors mounted a late comeback effort, scoring twice to narrow the gap to 7–6 and putting pressure on Salem State in the closing minutes.
But the Vikings' defense stood tall when it mattered most. Locking down in the final stretch, Salem State denied any chance of a game-tying goal and held on to secure the dramatic 7–6 win marking the first victory over the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State in program history.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- This would mark the first win over the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State in program history.
- James Tatro and Connor Vittands would both have two goals in the win over the Warriors.
- Landon Rice, Cameron Collins, and Jack Michaud would all have one goal in the matchup over the Warriors.
- Ryan Cohen would have 11 saves on 17 shots to secure the win over the Warriors.
- Jaxon Thomas would have the most ground balls for the Vikings in the matchup against the Warriors with 6.
- Coleman Ballweg would have 3 caused turnovers for the Vikings to helps secure the win over the Warriors.
UP NEXT:
Salem State is back in action on Tuesday April 7th, 2026 where they look to travel to Bourn, MA to take on the Buccaneers of Mass Maritime for a conference matchup. Opening tip off is set for 7:00pm.