MANSFIELD, Conn. – Junior transfer Christian Leone (West Norwalk, Conn.) had five assists, while his lone goal on a man-up situation with 5:33 left was a key one as the Eastern Connecticut State University men's lacrosse team  never trailed after the opening goal to post a tight 15-12 victory over Babson College Tuesday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

The win is the seventh straight for Eastern (2-2) against Babson (3-2) in a game which featured two New England-ranked teams in the host Warriors (tied for 10th) and the visiting Beavers (9th).

Leading Babson in defeat were senior Jeremy Yudkin (Franklin Lakes, N.J.), who scored three goals, and senior captain Cam Caruso (St. Charles, Ill), who added two goals and one assist. Sophomore Brad Bero (Carlisle, Mass.) chipped in with one goal and two assists, junior captain Alex Patinkin (Providence, R.I.) and senior Tom Mallon (Manhasset, N.Y.) each tacked on one goal and one assist, and first-year Phil Russo (Middleton, Mass.) pickedup a team-high 11 groundballs.

Eastern never trailed after the first eight minutes and led by four with seven minutes left in the first half, but Babson continued to challenge for the lead. Three times in the second half, the Warriors opened up a three-goal advantage, but each time the Beavers got one back to cut their deficit to two.

With 8:36 left, Babson made it a one-goal game on Caruso's unassisted tally. Soon after, the Warriors were awarded consecutive man-up chances and Leone converted on the second Babson penalty with his first career goal with 5:33 left.

Thirty seconds later, sophomore Mike Devine (Cheshire, Conn.) scored his third goal of the match and team-leading 17th of the season to push Eastern's lead to 15-12.

Senior Jamie Tommins (Fairfield, Conn.) made ten saves for Eastern while junior James Whalen (Westwood, Mass.) turned back nine shots for Babson.

NOTE: Taken from an Eastern Connecticut State University press release.