HENNIKER, N.H. - New England College Men's Lacrosse picked up a 10-8 non-conference win over Thomas College on Thursday at Don Melander Field. 

Prior to the game, the Pilgrims honored Tony Leary (Montevideo, Uruguay) and Ethan LaHaye (Grantham, N.H.) as a part of their senior day ceremony. 

The Terriers struck early as they jumped to a 1-0 lead just 69 seconds into the game. Seven minutes went by before junior Brody McGonigle (Concord, N.H.) fired a pass to freshman Shane Helman (Parma, Ohio), who scored the first of his three goals in the game. McGonigle got on the board as he took a pass from freshman Owen Taylor (Lanesborough, Mass.) to give the Pilgrims a 2-1 lead. After scoring with less than a minute left in the first quarter, Thomas was able to tie up the game. 

It took just over three minutes for the Terriers to strike again as they went up 3-2. Junior Matt O'Rourke (Concord, N.H.) responded 78 seconds later to tie the game at three. After another Thomas goal, Helman scored his second goal of the game to tie it at four. Graduate Evan Zonderman (Dracut, Mass.) found the back of the net as the two teams went into the half tied at five goals apiece. 

The Pilgrims would fall behind 8-5 midway through the third quarter before Helman finished the hat trick to pull NEC within two. McGonigle and Taylor scored to send a tie game into the fourth quarter. 

Just over two minutes into the final frame, junior Andrew Pepka (Pembroke, N.H.) scored his ninth of the season to put the Pilgrims up 9-8. O'Rourke scored with 11:32 left to double the lead. A steady Pilgrims defense held the Terriers scoreless in the final 17 minutes to secure the 10-8 victory. 

Junior goalie Nate Finn (Norwood, Mass.) made seven saves in the win. 

McGonigle finished the game with four assists, while Helman and Taylor each added two. 

Zonderman, while going 20-21 in faceoffs, also led the Pilgrims with 11 ground balls. 

The Pilgrims resume GNAC play on Saturday as they head to New Haven, Connecticut to take on Albertus Magnus at 1:00 PM. 

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