Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England men's lacrosse team broke up a 9-9 game in the fourth with three unanswered goals to pull out a 12-10 victory over Plymouth State University in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

UNE improves to 4-0 on the season, while the contest was the season opener for the Panthers (0-1).

Senior Dylan Thomas (Mount Pleasant, N.Y.), sophomore Nick Gross (Kennebunk, Maine), and senior Mike Pennacchio (Peabody, Mass.) each scored down the stretch for the Nor'easters to build a three-goal advantage (12-9), before Plymouth State got one back from junior Ty Long (Dover, N.H.) with 1:05 left to settle on the final margin.

Gross and junior Tyler Thomas (Mount Pleasant, N.Y.) tallied three goals apiece to pace Big Blue, while senior Matt Anderson (St. Paul, Minn.) added two scores. Dylan Thomas registered three assists prior to his go-ahead marker with 7:25 to go -- all to younger brother Tyler. Senior George Jenkins (Natick, Mass.) supported the attack with two assists of his own.

Long had three scores to lead the Panthers, who received an addtional two goals each from junior Mike Ventura (Columbia, N.J.) and sophomore Chris Annunciata (Waltham, Mass.).

The trio from Plymouth State got the visitors off to a quick start, each capitalizing on a three-minute penalty early in the first quarter. After UNE put two on the board in the middle of the frame, the Panthers tacked on two more to increase the cushion to 5-2 after 15 minutes of play.

The Nor'easters were the only squad to find the scoreboard in the second, and a behind-the-back goal from Tyler Thomas with 1:02 left in the half drew Big Blue even for the first time at 5-5. UNE would not trail again on the day.

Anderson came out in the third to score both of his goals and give the Nor'easters a 7-5 edge -- the same difference UNE would end the period with (9-7).

Annunciata and Ventura tied things up in the opening stages of the final stanza, only to see Big Blue regain the lead minutes later.

UNE senior Nate Porter (Cohasset, Mass.) made nine stops and picked up six ground balls in goal for the hosts.

Sophomore Dan O'Gorman (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) had a game-best eight ground balls, and, while Anderson contributed another six, the senior midfielder was one of four players to record multiple caused turnovers. Led by four from classmate Chuck Dowd (Abington, Mass.), first-year Pat Reid (Southington, Conn.), and junior Nick McMahon (Westfield, Mass.) combined for nine of the Nor'easters' 15 caused turnovers in the game.

For Plymouth State, first-year Mike Curley (Billerica, Mass.) finished with five ground balls and a match-high five caused turnovers. Two goalies split the 60 minutes between the pipes -- senior Jack Tyo (East Sandwich, Mass.) and sophpmore Jesse Kutz (Hopkinton, Mass.) -- and made five and six saves, respectively.

Big Blue is back at it Tuesday (5 p.m.) with a home date against Bates College. The Panthers are off until next Saturday when they visit Castleton State College (1 p.m.).


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