The lacrosse team lost six of last year’s seven highest scorers. Only one senior is on the roster. That should signal the dreaded R word-rebuilding. But riding a talented pool of underclassmen, the lacrosse team is winning too. Last Saturday’s 10-7 victory at home against Western Connecticut State guaranteed a third-place Little East Conference rank. The Beacons now stand at 7-3 (4-1 in the conference). Asked about the season’s success, Coach Myles Berry beamed, “It’s been great. We lost so many kids last year. We have lots of new guys doing well.” The Western Connecticut State game was case in point. Chris Nyman, sophomore attackman, and Robet Cusak, freshman midfielder, scored six of the team’s ten goals. The duo combined for the game-winning score in the closing minutes of the third period. Behind the net, Nyman passed to Cusack, who netted a quick mid-range shot that streaked through the goalie’s legs. The play capped a furious and intense mid-game rally that saw the Beacons significantly raise their intensity. Junior David Liberatore, Cusack and Senior Sahba Joe Farivar leveled intimidating hits, which fired up the Beacons. “Our kids playing with intensity, that’s the key for us all year,” explained Berry. “If we work harder than the other team, we’re in almost every game.”For their efforts, four individual Beacons have recently been awarded Conference player of the week awards: Nyman (offensive), Cusack (rookie), Junior Attackman Chris Hanafin (offensive) and Junior Goalie Nick Eaton (defensive). The ability of Nyman and Cusack to step up in the Western Connecticut game was critical. Hanafin was the target of the defense for much of the afternoon, where he was routinely checked and swatted at by several swarming players at once. This opened up the field for Nyman and Cusack. Hanafin still contributed with one goal, raising his team-leading tally to 27. Eaton’s 15 saves also helped the Beacons stay in the game after falling behind 3-0. The next conference game for the Beacons: Eastern Connecticut State. Coach Berry calls them a “tough team” and “real powerhouse in the league.” But after amassing a 118-70 record over the past 13 seasons, and 7-3 with a young team this year, UMass Boston looks rather tough themselves.