Box Score HENNIKER, N.H. – Facing the top-seeded team in their division, the New England College men's lacrosse team lost 9-7 against visiting Norwich University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division action on Wednesday evening at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire.

THE BASICS
Score:                    Norwich 9, New England College 7
Records:               Pilgrims 3-10, 2-3 GNAC North | Cadets 10-5, 4-0 GNAC North

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Down 2-0 early in the second, the 'Grims got on the board with 13:16 left in the half off a goal from NEC senior attacker Matt Daley (Plymouth, Mass.) – his 22^nd of the season – assisted by freshman defender Brody McGonigle (Concord, N.H.). Two minutes later, NEC's leading scorer, junior attacker Henri Pfeifle (Darien, Conn.) found the equalizer on an unassisted shot for his 44^th goal of the year. Finally, with 10:02 to go in the second quarter, NEC junior attacker Thomas Norton (Mansfield, Mass.) found the back of the net for his 15^th goal of the season as the Pilgrims took their first lead of the game, 3-2.
• Later down 5-3 in the closing seconds of the first half, Pfeifle took it in himself for his 45^th goal of the year with 41 seconds left. The Pilgrims trailed by just one going into halftime, 5-4.
• Late in the third quarter, NEC found themselves trailing by three. The 'Grims once again turned to their leading scorers to get back in the game, as Pfeifle scored with 4:26 remaining while Daley took a pass from senior midfielder Thomas Doe (Windham, N.H.) and fired it home with 1:13 left. The hosts would enter the final quarter once again within one at 7-6.
• In the fourth quarter, the Cadets would add two goals to go back up by three before Pfeifle found the back of the net with 1:09 remaining in the game, his fourth of the contest. That was as close as the Pilgrims would come, however, falling just short.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• NEC freshman goalkeeper Nate Finn (Norwood, Mass.), last week's GNAC Rookie of the Week, tallied eight saves on the night for the Pilgrims.
• Norwich junior goalkeeper Thomas Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.) finished with ten stops for the Cadets.
• Norwich sophomore attacker Drew Fleury (Nashua, N.H.) – the fourth-leading scorer in the GNAC –  led all scorers with five goals on the night.
• Pfeifle's four goals give him 47 on the season, a total that ranked him second in the GNAC at press time.

UP NEXT

• NEC is back on the field on Saturday when they play host to the Monks of St. Joseph's College of Maine in a 1:00 p.m. game. Prior to the start of the game, the Pilgrims will be honoring their graduating senior class as part of Senior Day.
• Norwich plays their next game at Rivier University, also on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

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