NEW LONDON, Conn. - New England College Men's Lacrosse got back in the win column with an 18-2 win over the Mitchell College Mariners on Saturday. 

Junior Nick McCarthy (Merrimack, N.H.) scored the first goal of his career to get things started just under five minutes into the game. Freshman Owen Taylor (Lanesborough, Mass.), who finished with six goals in the game, added to the lead to continue a five-goal first quarter for the Pilgrims where graduate Evan Zonderman (Dracut, Mass.) added two of his four goals. A steady Pilgrims defense held the Mariners to one shot on goal in the quarter. 

Zonderman and McCarthy stole the show in the second quarter as all five goals for NEC came from the two. Zonderman found the back of the net just 46 seconds into the quarter before McCarthy responded with a goal of his own just 49 seconds later. Mitchell got four shots on goal in the half, where junior Nate Finn (Norwood, Mass.) was in front of them all to hold the Mariners scoreless. 

Mitchell was able to get on the board midway through the third quarter as they cut the Pilgrims lead down to 11. Taylor scored a hat trick in the quarter as he reached four goals in the game. A goal with two seconds left in the third got the Mariners within 11 goals with 15 minutes to go. Additional pressure from the Pilgrims allowed them to come away with the 16-goal victory. 

Junior Brody McGonigle (Concord, N.H.), freshman Matt Pero (New London, Conn.), and junior Jakub Rusina (Frydek-Mistek, Czech Republic), also added goals in the win. 

Zonderman went a perfect 23-23 from the faceoff circle while Finn, who led the GNAC in saves heading into the game, extended his conference lead with eight saves on the afternoon. 

Mcgonigle led the Pilgrims with four assists as Taylor and junior Andrew Pepka (Pembroke, N.H.) finished with three apiece, while Rusina (2) and sophomore Elliot Belliveau (Henniker, N.H.) (1) followed behind. 

Zonderman's 16 ground balls was enough to lead both teams, while freshman Hunter Knice (Red Bank, N.J.) picked up 13. 

Knice and senior Ethan LaHaye (Grantham, N.H.) each forced three turnovers while Finn forced two. Taylor, McGonigle, and senior Tony Leary (Montevideo, Uruguay) forced one as well. 

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