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Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Posted: Feb 14, 2026

Pestrichello’s Late Goal Lifts Men’s Lacrosse Past Emerson, 10-9, in Season Opener

($) Video Box Score
Game Leaders
Saint Joseph (Conn.)
G: Brenden Tedeschi - 5
A: 3 Players (#2, #6, #50) - 1
Sv: Noah Isleib - 13
GB: Nick Wesley - 8
Emerson
G: 2 Players (#2, #31) - 2
A: Aedan Kiniry - 2
Sv: Ethan Corby - 10
GB: Aedan Kiniry - 7
Team Stats
Full stats

BOSTON – Senior attack Nick Pestrichello (Newington, Conn.) scored the game-winning goal with 1:18 left in regulation, lifting the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team to a 10-9 season-opening victory over Emerson College on Saturday afternoon at Rotch Field in Boston, Mass. Junior midfielder Brenden Tedeschi (Orange, Vt.) also propelled the Blue Jays to victory, scoring a career-high five goals to pace the offense. With the win, the Blue Jays improve to 1-0 overall, while the Lions fall to 0-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • USJ struck first, as junior defenseman Vinny Pusateri III (Fitchburg, Mass.) poked home a loose ball in the crease to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead at the 14:32 mark of the opening quarter.

  • Tedeschi kept the momentum going, scoring on both sides of an Emerson goal to extend the advantage to 3-1 at 6:03.

  • Junior attack Adam Pelletier (North Kingstown, R.I.) capped the first-quarter scoring for USJ, finishing an assist from sophomore attack Dominic Oakes (Southington, Conn.) to give the Blue Jays a 4-1 lead entering the second quarter.

  • USJ continued its offensive pressure in the second, as Pelletier set up senior attack Freeman Johnson (Swanzey, N.H.) for a goal. Graduate student attack Brycen Kennedy (Southington, Conn.) then converted on a man-up opportunity to push the lead to 6-1 with 13:03 remaining in the half.

  • Emerson responded with three unanswered goals, but Tedeschi completed his hat trick with 55 seconds left before halftime to send USJ into the break with a 7-4 advantage.

  • After a slow start to the third quarter, Emerson struck at the 7:43 mark. Tedeschi answered late in the stanza, scoring with 33 seconds remaining to give USJ an 8-5 lead entering the fourth.

  • The Lions opened the final frame with two straight goals before Tedeschi netted his fifth of the game with 10:17 remaining, reestablishing a 9-7 Blue Jays edge.

  • Emerson answered with two goals to tie the game at 9-9 with 2:05 to play.

  • Pestrichello then delivered the decisive strike, scoring with 1:18 remaining to give USJ a 10-9 lead. The Blue Jays defense stood firm down the stretch, preventing Emerson from finding the equalizer and securing the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

  • Tedeschi paced the offense with a career-high five goals.

  • Pelletier and Pestrichello each recorded two points on one goal and one assist.

  • Senior defenseman Nick Wesley (Wakefield, Mass.) collected a team-high eight ground balls and caused a team-best three turnovers in his USJ debut.

  • Junior faceoff specialist Benjamin Bausch (Holliston, Mass.) went 10-for-18 at the X.

  • Junior goalkeeper Noah Isleib (Easton, Mass.) played all 60 minutes and earned the win after recording 13 saves.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays make their 2026 home debut at USJ Lacrosse Field on Saturday, Feb. 21, hosting Manhattanville University. Opening faceoff against the Valiants in West Hartford is set for 2 p.m.

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