DUDLEY, Mass. —Gordon Men's Lacrosse picked up a much needed victory at Nichols on Saturday, leading cover-to-cover for its third Commonwealth Coast Conference win this season. The Fighting Scots scored the first four goals of the game and led by as many as eight in the second half before holding on for a 17-11 victory over the hosts.
 
Nichols is officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Gordon remains in a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots, heading into a pivotal game against UNE at home on Wednesday.
 
Junior Roger Evans (Oxford, Pa.) and freshman Nico Manganiello (Peabody, Mass.) each scored four goals for the Fighting Scots (6-9, 3-5 CCC) while junior Jake Martin (Watertown, Conn.) struck three times and classmate Ryan Utz (Rochester, N.Y.) netted two.
 
Bison Michael Bane potted five goals and will enter Tuesday's season finale at Roger Williams with 127 career markers, which ties him with David French (1972-76) for the Nichols program record. Junior Anthony Verville (Portland, Maine) tallied three goals for head coach Eric Gobiel's squad while junior Brian Hancock (Groton, Mass.) scored twice and senior Corey Davis (Wakefield, Mass.) registered his 15th of the season.
 
Gordon led 4-2 after one and 9-4 at halftime behind two goals each from Utz, Martin, and Manganiello. Verville and Hancock each scored twice in the opening 30 minutes to pace Nichols.
 
Bane picked up a hat trick in the third for Nichols and Evans scored twice for the Fighting Scots to bring the third quarter to a close with GC up 13-8. Goals from Davis and Bane in the first 4:46 of the fourth helped the Bison get to within three at 13-10, but Gordon answered with four-straight to take a 17-10 lead with 2:12 to go.
 
Senior Sean Coates (Grafton, Mass.) collected a team-high four ground balls in his final home game for the Bison. Freshman net minder James Keane (Franklin, Mass.) turned aside 10 shots in defeat. Gordon junior Cody Greenwald (Albany, N.Y.) stopped 11 shots to move to 6-8 on the season.
 
Nichols outshot Gordon 40-38, but the Fighting Scots won the ground ball battle and never had a failed clear in the game despite 24 turnovers. Gordon's Peter Kovacevic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) won 18 face-offs on the day.
 
 
The Bison close their season at Roger Williams Wednesday at 7 p.m. Gordon hosts UNE Wednesday at 7 p.m.