HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's lacrosse team lost 19-12 to visiting Lasell University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire.

THE BASICS
Score:                    Lasell 19, New England College 12
Records:               Pilgrims 2-6, 1-2 GNAC | Lasers 5-4, 1-0 GNAC

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lasers – the preseason favorite to win the GNAC's South Division this year – jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter, as Lasell graduate attacker Landon Reyes (Westfield, Mass.) and freshman attacker Colin LeBaron (Tolland, Conn.) each scored a pair of goals through the games first twelve minutes. The Pilgrims would finally answer with a goal from NEC junior attacker Henri Pfeifle (Darien, Conn.) – his team-leading 23^rd of the season – with 1:24 remaining in the opening quarter, assisted by junior attacker Thomas Norton (Mansfield, Mass.) as the hosts trailed 5-1 going into the second quarter.
• In the second, Lasell went up by as much as five before NEC started to make some moves. The Pilgrims closed out the first half with goals from sophomore midfielder Nathan Hawkins (Salisbury, N.H.) and Pfeifle pulled them to within three going into halftime, trailing 7-4.
• Down 8-4 early in the third quarter, the 'Grims rallied with three straight goals to pull to within one. First, NEC senior midfielder Joey Olsen (Mansfield, Mass.) took it in himself for his seventh goal of the season with 13:04 remaining. Just 22 seconds later, the Pilgrims would capitalize on a man-up opportunity when senior attacker Matt Daley (Plymouth, Mass.) found Pfeifle for the junior-transfer's 25^th goal of the season, pulling them to within two. Then with 11:41 left in the third, Daley would again notch the assist as his pass found Norton on another power play, drawing the 'Grims to within one at 8-7.
• The Lasers would answer, however, using a balanced attack to score five of the game's next six goals over the next seven minutes. Just like that, Lasell took a 13-8 lead with 4:48 to go in the third.
• Just when it seemed the game might effectively be over, the 'Grims turned to NEC senior midfielder Thomas Doe (Windham, N.H.) as a pass from Olsen found Doe who converted for his tenth goal of the season with 3:11 remaining in the third. 38 seconds later, Daley would take it in himself for his 14^th goal of the season. NEC would enter the fourth quarter trailing 14-10.
• In the fourth quarter, a blistering defensive effort by the Pilgrims early on was not enough to turn into goals at the other end. After holding off the Lasers for nearly six minutes, Lasell was able to put the game away with a string of four unanswered goals, and NEC was unable to challenge the lead again.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• NEC freshman goalkeeper Nate Finn (Norwood, Mass.) tallied 16 saves for the Pilgrims in a valiant effort.
• Lasell junior goalkeeper Michael Catalano (Norwood, Mass.) posted 12 stops for the Lasers.

• Reyes dominated for the Lasers, finishing with six goals and two assists. Lebaron contributed five goals with four ground balls, while junior midfielder Matthew Carbone (Needham, Mass.) recorded a game-high 11 ground balls while going 15-of-20 on face-offs.
• Pfeifle led NEC with five goals, one off of his career-high with the Pilgrims. At press time, the junior-transfer was leading the team with 27 goals, ranking him fourth in the GNAC.

UP NEXT

• NEC is back on the field on Wednesday when they travel to Emmanuel College for a 7:00 p.m. game.
• Lasell plays their next game at home against Norwich University on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.