RESULT: #16 Vermont 11, Hartford 7 RECORDS: Hartford (3-6, 0-2 AE); Vermont (9-1, 2-1 AE) LOCATION: Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium (West Hartford, Conn.) THE LEAD: No. 16 Vermont broke open a defensive battle in the fourth quarter to take an 11-7 victory against the University of Hartford men's lacrosse team in America East action on Saturday. Ian MacKay netted a game-best six goals for the Catamounts, who ended the game on a 3-1 run to seal the win. Senior Rion Davison scored a pair of goals and classmate Griffin Feiner registered three points on one goal and a two assists to lead Hartford in the losing effort. HOW IT HAPPENED: A defensive battle in the first half led to Vermont taking a 5-3 edge into the break. Behind goals from senior Justin Huggins, freshman Alex Smith and Davison, the Hawks held a 3-2 advantage with 7:49 to go in the half before the Catamounts answered with a 3-0 run to take their first lead of the afternoon. A buzzer-beater from MacKay capped Vermont's half-ending rally and provided the Catamounts with the two-goal advantage at intermission The Hawks quickly clawed back from their deficit in the second half, though, as a man-up goal from Feiner followed by an unassisted score from Davison knotted up the game at 5-5 with 5:30 left in the third. But Vermont, the sixth-ranked defensive team in the nation, clamped down over the final 18 minutes of the game to come away with the victory. Holding the Hawks scoreless for the remainder of the third, MacKay and Dawes Milchling put the Catamounts up by two before Rob Hudson's goal 38 seconds into the final stanza would extend the visiting team's advantage to three at 8-5. Hartford managed to cut the deficit to two on an unassisted goal from Dylan Jinks just 45 seconds later, but MacKay's fifth goal at the 11:14 mark sparked a 3-1 Catamounts' run that would put the game out of reach. INSIDE THE BOX SCORE & NOTES: Senior Dylan Protesto posted a dominant effort at the X, going 15-of-19 on the afternoon. He added a game-high nine ground balls as the Hawks held a 26-20 advantage in the category. Hartford was 2-of-2 on man-up opportunities, while Vermont converted on half of its six extra-man chances. Both sides finished even in shots at 27 apiece. Senior goalie Ryan Vanderford registered six saves between the pipes for the Hawks. His counterpart, Nick Washuta, made a game-best seven rejections. NEXT ON TAP: Hartford remains home to host Binghamton on Saturday, April 7. Opening faceoff between the Hawks and Bearcats is slated for 1 p.m. on ESPN3.