Watson Scores 5 Times, Helps Power QU to Road Win in Opener

Friday, February 6

Lowell, MA

12:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

2-0

UMass Lowell

0-2

Quinnipiac

UMASS Lowell

Nate Watson vs. Merrimack (2025 in Hamden, CT)

Photo by: Rob Rasmussen / P8Photos.com

Watson Scores 5 Times, Helps Power QU to Road Win in Opener

2/6/2026 3:44:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

By: QU Athletic Communications

LOWELL, Mass. - Quinnipiac men's lacrosse began the 2026 campaign with a road win on Friday afternoon, battling to a 15-12 victory at UMass Lowell.

Nate Watson led the Bobcats with five goals and three assists for eight points. The sophomore scored three times in the first half, then found the back of the cage twice in the fourth quarter to help QU clinch a victory in its season opener.

FINAL SCORE
Quinnipiac 15, UMass Lowell 12

LOCATION
Cushing Field | Lowell, Mass.

RECORDS
Quinnipiac (1-0) | UMass Lowell (0-1)

GAME REWIND
Quinnipiac scored the first four goals of the contest. Ryan Downing registered the first goal of the new season, then Cole Marsala made it 2-0. Nate Watson then found the back of the cage two straight times to make it 4-0 QU.

The River Hawks battled back to cut the deficit to 6-5, then QU scored three more times to close the first half with a 9-5 advantage.

UMass Lowell battled back once again, scoring four straight times to open the second half and tie things 9-9. First-year Bobcat AJ Amandolare recorded his first collegiate goal to give QU a 10-9 lead at the end of the third quarter of action.

Quinnipiac then outscored UMass Lowell 5-3 in the fourth quarter – including a pair of goals for Nate Watson.

NOTES & NUMBERS

The Bobcats outshot the River Hawks 43-38 in total.
Quinnipiac went a perfect 19-for-19 on clear attempts.
The Bobcats forced 19 UMass Lowell turnovers in total.
Nate Watson is now up to 53 points during his career at Quinnipiac. He registered 45 points in 15 games last year as a freshman. He closed 2025 with three consecutive hat tricks, then registered five more goals in today's season opener.
Cole Marsala added three goals and one helper for four total points. He scored once in the first quarter, once in the second, and once in the fourth period of action.
Johnny Karafa added two goals for the Bobcats. He had eight goals last year for Quinnipiac, giving him 10 scores since the start of 2025.
Justin Robbert and Aiden Whitehouse each chipped in with one goal one helper.
Joe Konesco and Colin Redmond each caused three turnovers to help anchor the defensive side of things.
Graduate goalie Mason Oak made nine saves and scooped up three ground balls.
Sean McCaffery went 6-of-13 from the faceoff x and scooped up six ground balls during an impressive debut with the Bobcats.
Max Pauwels also won five faceoff battles.
Quinnipiac has taken each of the last three meetings with UMass Lowell (2022, 2023, 2026).

NEXT UP
The Bobcats return to Hamden for the home opener on Friday, Feb. 13, playing host to UMass at 2:00 PM.

For an inside look at the Quinnipiac men's lacrosse program, be sure to follow it on social media @QU_MLAX or go to gobobcats.com/mlax.