HENNIKER, N.H. - New England College Men's Lacrosse fell in a tough conference matchup against the Cadets of Norwich University on Wednesday afternoon. Junior goalie Nate Finn (Norwood, Mass.) made a career-high 27 saves, which is the most in program history since May 10th, 2000, where Drew Thomas made 29 saves against Middlebury. 

The Cadets wasted no time, scoring just 47 seconds into the game as James Raymond found the back of the net. Norwich would take a 5-0 lead into the second quarter. After going down six, the Pilgrims started to fight back as graduate Evan Zonderman (Dracut, Mass.) scored his seventh goal of the season. Junior Brody McGonigle (Concord, N.H.) added a goal late in the quarter to send a 6-2 game into the half. 

After eight scoreless minutes to open the second half, Norwich found the back of the net twice in two minutes to take an 8-2 lead. After going down 10-2 in the beginning of the fourth, the Pilgrims started their attack. 

McGonigle scored twice within a span of 17 seconds to finish the hat trick to cut the lead to six. Just seven seconds went by before freshman Owen Taylor (Lanesborough, Mass.) buried one past Cadets goalie Mason Dils. McGonigle's fourth goal gave the Pilgrims seven minutes to score four. Despite a late goal from McGonigle, Norwich completed the 10-7 win. 

Finn made eight saves in the Pilgrims' late-game rally to keep the game within reach. 

Taylor and Zonderman each finished with an assist as Zonderman's eight ground balls were second to freshman Hunter Knice (Red Bank, N.J.), who scooped up 11. 

Senior Ethan LaHaye (Grantham, N.H.) and junior Nick McCarthy (Merrimack, N.H.) each caused three turnovers as Zonderman went 65% in faceoffs. 

The Pilgrims are back in action on Saturday as they host the Dean College Bulldogs on Don Melander Field at 4:00 PM. 

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