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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- University of New England first-year Sam Cloutier (Lewiston, Maine) scored with eight minutes remaining to break a tie game, and the Nor'easters held off MIT late to take 7-6 non-conference men's lacrosse victory Saturday (March 16) afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Nor'easters, who climb over the .500 mark to 3-2 on the season. MIT is winless in two outings.

Senior Tyler Thomas (Mount Pleasant, N.Y.) had a five-point afternoon to lead the way for the Nor'easters, scoring twice and setting up three goals. Junior Pat Wolfe (Phippsburg, Maine) chipped in a pair of goals, and Cloutier, junior Mike Allan (Billerica, Mass.) and sophomore Eddie Burke (Windsor, Conn.) each scored once. Sophomore Geoff Bruno (Durham, Conn.) had a career-high four assists for UNE, matching the third-best single-game performance in program history.

MIT received two goals from sophomore Chris Cook (Tully, N.Y.) and one each from sophomore Jake Slonaker (West Windsor, N.J.) and first-years Luke Verdi (Middletown, Md.), Jonah Hessels (Poolesville, Md.) and Paul Orrson (Baltimore, Md.).

Although the Nor'easters never trailed in the contest, they were uable to push their lead past a two-goal margin. Thomas notched two goals and had two assists in the first half as UNE built a 4-2 advantage.

Each team tallied once in the third period before MIT drew even (5-5) with the first two goals of the final period. Cloutier put Big Blue ahead for good midway through the final frame, taking a pass from Thomas and rifling shot from 10 yards out into the cage.

Allan would add a much-needed insurance goal with two minutes remaining, converting Bruno's fourth assist of the afternoon.

Cook notched a marker with 17 seconds left to get the Engineers back within one (7-6). MIT won the ensuing draw but was unable to get off a quality shot before time expired.

Junior Dan O'Gorman (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) won 6 of 9 faceoffs and collected a game-high seven ground balls for UNE. Senior Nick McMahon (Westfield, Mass.) had four caused turnovers, including a pair of crucial stops in the final few minutes. Senior goalkeeper Jay Letendre (Southington, Conn.) stopped nine shots to earn the victory.

For MIT, senior co-captain Christopher Rullan (Wexford, Pa.) was busy in goal, making 17 saves. First-year Nick Uhlenhuth (Louisville, Ky.) was credited with a team-best six  ground balls, while Verdi and junior Elliot Sykora (Wilmette, Ill.) added five apiece.

Both teams return to action Tuesday. UNE heads to New York to take on Morrisville State College and MIT makes the short trip to face Wentworth Institute of Technology.


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