HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's lacrosse team won 22-3 against visiting Albertus Magnus College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire. The game immediately followed a ceremony where the Pilgrims recognized their outgoing senior class as part of the team's Senior Day.
THE BASICS
Score: New England College 22, Albertus Magnus 3
Records: Pilgrims 6-5, 3-2 GNAC | Falcons 4-6, 1-3 GNAC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The 'Grims, emboldened from the Senior Day ceremony, wasted no time getting on the board as senior midfielder Daniel Varga (Hampton, N.J.) and senior attacker Henri Pfeifle (Darien, Conn.) each scored in the opening minutes to put NEC ahead 2-0 just 3:31 into the game. Later in the first quarter, Pfeifle would find Varga for Varga's team-leading 39th goal of the season to give the hosts a 3-1 lead after one.
- In the second, the Pilgrims kept the pressure on as Pfeifle and junior midfielder Nathan Hawkins (Salisbury, N.H.) both scored early to put NEC up by four with 8:38 remaining in the half. Then with 5:05 left, NEC senior attacker Thomas Norton (Mansfield, Mass.) would find senior attacker Matt Daley (Plymouth, Mass.) for a shot on the right side, beating the keeper and giving the Pilgrims a 6-1 lead. Just 24 seconds later, Pfeifle scored his third goal of the game off an assist by Varga to extend the lead to six. The 'Grims went into halftime leading 7-1.
- In the third quarter, NEC continued to pour it on with three goals from Varga, two more from Daley as well as scoring plays from Hawkins and Pfeifle. With a 14-2 lead, the hosts blew the game open. Albertus Magnus never threatened again.
- With 3:31 left in the game, NEC sophomore midfielder Andrew Pepka (Pembroke, N.H.) took a pass from Varga on the left side then shot it and scored for his first career goal as the Pilgrims bench erupted. With 2:00 to go, Daley found Pepka as the sophomore scored to put the exclamation point on the result.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- NEC sophomore goalkeeper Nate Finn (Norwood, Mass.) got the start in net for the Piglrims, tallying two saves in the first quarter. Sophomore goalkeeper Logan Stroud (Belmont, N.H.) entered the game at the start of the second, posting two saves. Senior goalkeeper Jared O'Connor (Washington, N.H.) entered the game in the second half and posted three saves in 30 minutes.
- Albertus Magnus sophomore goalkeeper Nick Duryea (East Haven, Conn.) finished with 18 stops on the day for the Falcons.
- Varga contributed a career-high nine goals, three assists, eight ground balls and three caused turnovers on the day while Pfeifle finished with five goals, three assists, three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Daley totaled three goals, six assists, four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
- At press time, Varga led the entire GNAC with 46 goals 72 points on the season. His nine goals tied for the fifth most in NEC history and are the most by a Pilgrim since former NEC great Sam Creary scored eleven against Mitchell on April 20, 2022.
- NEC senior long-stick midfielder Jackson Kain (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) finished with four caused turnovers and six ground balls. As of this writing, Kain continues to lead the GNAC in caused turnovers.
- Albertus Magnus freshman attacker Anthony Brikes (Staten Island, N.Y.) had two goals for the Falcons while junior midfielder Sean Keenan (Franklin Square, N.Y.) added another.
SENIOR DAY
- Prior to the game, Pfeifle, Varga, Daley, Norton, O'Connor and Kain were joined by defender Zac Lacasse (Hudson, N.H.), midfielder Panayiotis Kostakis (Manchester, N.H.) and goalkeeper Hunter Sutcliffe (Warwick, R.I.) in being recognized by the men's lacrosse team and the NEC athletics department as part of Senior Day. These nine outstanding seniors were honored by coaches, teammates, family members and fans for all of their accomplishments at NEC both on and off the field. Although their time with the program may be coming to an end, they will forever be a part of the 'Grims family.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the field on Wednesday when they host Emmanuel College in a crucial GNAC North divisional game. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
- Albertus Magnus plays their next game at home against Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.
