HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's lacrosse team hosted their second home game of the season against the visiting Mariners of Maine Maritime Academy that didn't conclude in favor of the 'Grims on Saturday at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire.

THE BASICS
Score:                    Maine Maritime Academy 17, New England College 9
Records:               Mariners 1-1, 0-0 NAC | Pilgrims 0-2, 0-0 GNAC
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game started with a lot of high energy on the NEC side of things as they wasted no time finding themselves on the scoreboard first in this one with an impressive shot by junior attacker Henri Pfeifle (Darien, Conn.) coming off the feed by junior attacker Thomas Norton (Mansfield, Mass.).
• MMA retaliated back in a big way with an answer of their own as they managed to get off four consecutive goals that granted them a 4-1 lead in the first quarter of action.
• Thanks to the likes of NEC senior attacker Matt Daley (Plymouth, Mass.) powered his way through the crease securing a groundball and dumping it into the back of the net for the second goal that brought the team's deficit within just two.
• The rest of the second quarter had MMA written all over it as they kept their foot on the gas scoring four straight widening the gap for the 'Grims to try and overcome going into halftime, 8-2.
• Third quarter for NEC was a much better result as they were firing on all cylinders taking advantage of a man-up opportunity assess that allowed for Daley to find the wide open senior midfielder Thomas Doe (Windham, N.H.) at the top of the crease for a goal as they began to scratch their way back into the game.
• Things just seemed to be going the way NEC drew it up as they accounted for another goal scored from a man-up opportunity awarded to sophomore midfielder Nathan Hawkins (Salisbury, N.H.) assisted by Daley.
• It didn't stop there as the man-up opportunities continued to pile up making it the third of the quarter for the 'Grims that made for them to get senior midfielder Joey Olsen (Mansfield, Mass.) involved as he buried one coming off an assist from Doe.
• MMA answered with three goals of their own that allowed for the Mariners to continue to expand on the lead, 11-5 having the last one be scored with 3:59 remaining in the third quarter.
• The quarter ended in a NEC goal that resulted in the team outscoring the Mariners in the quarter, 4-3 with Norton scoring off the pass by Pfeifle.
• Fourth quarter started out strong for the 'Grims scoring two back-to-back goals trying to find their way back into the game both being bestowed to Pfeifle closing in on the Mariners only being down by three, 11-8.
• Defensively unfortunately NEC could not find a way to stop the Mariners from finding the back of the net as they went on a 4-0 run that made things difficult for the team to come up with an answer before the clock hit zero having 4:13 left in the fourth quarter, 15-9.
• NEC's last goal was scored at 2:32 as Hawkins made use of the man-up opportunity credited as Pfeifle found him open on the play.
• The game concluded with two more Mariner goals to solidify their victory on the day, 17-9.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Pfeifle did all he could for the 'Grims finishing out his evening with three goals and two assists for five points taking 13 shots.
• MMA sophomore Jacob Hintermaier (Macon, Georgia) had himself a day as well scoring goals that equated to five points on 13 shots.
• Today's game ended with the senior Daley having one goal and three assists that eclipsed a huge milestone in his career as he recorded his 100^th point during the game. Daley has been a big part of the 'Grims success thus far being a critical factor to the team last season he compiled an astonishing 67 points in his first season with the program scoring 39 goals and 28 assists.
• NEC junior goalkeeper Hunter Sutcliffe (Warwick, R.I.) ended with 11 saves on the day.
• MMA Garrett Ruszkowski (Saugus, Mass.) gathered 11 saves.
• Shots were in favor of the Mariners, 60-40.

 
 
UP NEXT

• NEC is back on the field on Monday, March 11^th at 4:00 PM when they head down to Sparks, Maryland for a contest against the University of New England.
• MMA plays their next game at home as they compete against the University of Southern Maine on Tuesday, March 12^th at 5:30 PM.

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