Box Score HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's lacrosse team lost 9-8 to visiting Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday afternoon at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire.
THE BASICS
Score: Johnson & Wales 9, New England College 8
Records: Pilgrims 0-7, 0-0 NECC | Wildcats 5-1, 1-0 GNAC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The opening minutes saw a veritable explosion of goal-scoring as four goals were scored in the first 4:33 of the game with the Wildcats and Pilgrims holding even at two apiece. The first quarter would end with NEC leading 5-4 led by a pair of goals each for junior attacker Matt Daley (Plymouth, Mass.) and sophomore attacker Thomas Norton (Mansfield, Mass.).
- The second quarter was virtually the opposite of the first, as the defenses of both teams adjusted to the other. A goal by NEC senior attacker Sam Crary (Newburyport, Mass.) just 1:11 into the stanza proved to be the sole score of the period as the game entered halftime with the 'Grims leading 6-4.
- Late in what had been a quiet third quarter, a surge by the Wildcats saw the visitors tie the game as senior midfielder Andrew Vasile (Milford, Mass.) found graduate midfielder Joe McIntyre (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) and junior midfielder Hayden Haldane (Clifton Park, N.Y.) in turn to knot it at six-all. Not to be outdone, NEC senior midfielder Nicholas Dorain (Wilder, Vt.) scored just his second goal of the season, assisted by Crary. The teams entered the final quarter with the Pilgrims clinging to a 7-6 lead.
- With 10:27 left in the game, Johnson & Wales tied it up again with a goal from graduate attacker Alex Padula (Syracuse, N.Y.). Then with 7:51 to go, Vasile gave the 'Cats their first lead since the opening minutes at 8-7. The deficit increased to two at 5:16 remaining, when sophomore defenseman Kyle Marcinko (Shelton, Conn.) found the back of the net. A goal from Norton with 1:38 would keep NEC alive, and with 24.7 remaining, Pilgrims head coach Jedd Brown would call timeout to draw up a play. A shot by Norton went wide, however, and the 'Grims would fall just short.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- NEC sophomore goalkeeper Connor Almstrom (Cumberland, R.I.) overcame a slow start to finish with 16 saves on the day.
- Johnson & Wales sophomore goalkeeper Trent Madigan (Ayer, Mass.) recorded 15 stops on the day.
- Norton posted his second hat-trick of the season while NEC freshman long-stick midfielder Jackson Kain (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) posted another outstanding defensive performance with five caused turnovers and four groundballs.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the field next Wednesday when they host UMass Boston in a 4:00 p.m. tilt.
- Johnson & Wales plays their next game on Saturday when they host Norwich University in a 1:00 p.m. contest.
