HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's lacrosse team returned from their spring break trip with an 18-7 loss to visiting Plymouth State University in non-conference action on Monday evening at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire.
THE BASICS
Score: Plymouth State 18, New England College 7
Records: Pilgrims 0-6, 0-0 NECC| Panthers 6-1, 0-0 LEC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The 'Grims took the early lead 2:56 into the game when sophomore attacker Thomas Norton (Mansfield, Mass.) plucked up a ground ball deep in Panther territory and took it in himself for his team-leading eighth goal of the season as NEC went ahead 1-0.
- Later trailing 3-1 with 9:03 remaining in the first quarter, the Pilgrims would get right back at it when junior midfielder Thomas Doe (Windham, N.H.) found senior midfielder Devon Saeger (Chester Springs, Penn.) for his sixth goal of the season, pulling NEC to within one at 3-2.
- Then with 3:25 to go, NEC would tie it up when Norton recovered the ground ball off a Plymouth State save, feeding senior attacker Sam Crary (Newburyport, Mass.) for his seventh goal of the season. The first quarter would end with the Panthers leading 5-3.
- Down by two just 1:08 into the second period, NEC would again pull to within one as Saeger found Crary in front of the Plymouth goal and the senior finished to put the score at 5-4.
- With 12 minutes left in the first half, Norton would take a long pass across the field and over the clear line, beating the defense and finishing to tie the game at 5-5.
- A late surge by the Panthers saw them take a 9-5 lead going into halftime, and they would dominate much of the third quarter. Saeger would score on an unassisted shot with 2:46 remaining in the third.
- Just 20 seconds into the fourth quarter, NEC junior attacker and reigning New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Player of the Week Matt Daley (Plymouth, Mass.) would get on the board for his first goal of the game, assisted by Doe.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- NEC sophomore goalie Connor Almstrom (Cumberland, R.I.), the reigning four-time New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Defensive Player of the Week, tallied 17 saves on the night for the Pilgrims.
- Plymouth State junior goalie Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) finished with five stops on the night from the Panthers.
- Norton was a force at both ends of the field, finishing with two goals, one assist and a team-high nine ground balls.
- Plymouth State junior attacker Crosby Fay (Waterville Valley, N.H.) led the Panthers with six goals while freshman attacker Brady Hunt (Billerica, Mass.) added four.
- Plymouth State senior attacker Jake Dolcimascolo (Georgetown, Mass.) finished with a game-high six assists to go along with his two goals.
- Plymouth State sophomore face-off specialist Leif Charbonneau (Grafton, Mass.) led the Panthers with nine ground balls, going 15 of 26 on face-offs.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the field on Wednesday when they play host to Johnson & Wales University in a 4:00 p.m. game.
- Plymouth State plays their next game at Gordon College on Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. game.
