Tristan Durgin

Nor'easters down Nichols, 10-6, to move to 8-3


Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. -- Nick Gross scored twice to lead a balanced University of New England attack, as the Nor'easters improved to 8-3 on the season with a 10-6 win over Nichols College in Commonwealth Coast Conference men's lacrosse action Saturday (April 6) afternoon at Vendetti Field.

The Nor'easters (2-1 CCC), who are off to the best start in the history of the program, have now won five straight over the Bison. Nichols dropped to 3-7 overall, 0-4 in CCC matches.

UNE, which received goals from nine different players, trailed 1-0 less than three minutes into the match before stringing together four goals. Tyler Thomas tied the game at 1, then Dan O'Gorman followed with 6:43 remaining in the quarter to give the Nor'easters the lead for good. A man-down goal by Geoff Bruno late in the first and a marker by Christopher Garber early in the second gave Big Blue a 4-1 lead.

Nichols would score the final two goals of the second quarter to pull within one (4-3) heading into intermission.

Sam Cloutier and Gross scored less than two minutes apart in the third period to push the Nor'easters' advantage to 6-3.

Both teams were able to get their respective offenses cranked up in the final frame. After a Litchfield tally got Nichols to within two at 6-4, Big Blue pulled away with four consecutive goals. Gross, Pat Wolfe, Fritz Kleinhempel and Mike Allan found the cage for UNE to give the visitors a 10-4 cushion.

Nichols scored twice in the final two minutes. Litchfield finished with three goals to lead Nichols.

O'Gorman and Thomas each had a pair of assists for UNE to produce three-point afternoons for the Nor'easters. Jay Letendre had eight saves to record the win in goal, while O'Gorman was 8-for-9 on face-offs and was credited with nine ground balls. UNE also received strong performances from Steven Hughes (7 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers) and Andrew Kelly (6 ground balls).

Bison goalkeeper Seth Drouin had a busy afternoon between the pipes, totaling 18 stops.

The Nor'easters' next match will be Wednesday at Gordon College (7 p.m.).