Box Score

NORTON, Mass. -- Seven different players scored for the University of New England men's lacrosse team in a 12-11 season-opening victory over Wheaton College (Mass.) on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 28) at Nordin Field.

Big Blue (1-0) never trailed in the contest, and built a lead of as many as five (7-2, 8-3) in 1st-half action before the Lyons (0-1) closed the gap late.

Among those scoring a pair for the Nor'easters were senior Shamus Higginbottom, junior Sam Cloutier, sophomores Dan Auger and David Rubenstein, and first-year Tom Luttrell. Auger and classmate Andrew Curro each had two assists. Seniors Geoff Bruno and Pat Reid also found the back of the cage for the visitors, who were out-shot 46-34.

Sophmores Connor Leggett and Sean Conger combined to win 16 of the 26 face-offs in the match, and senior Steven Hughes had a team-high six ground balls. Between the pipes, junior John Dusel posted 16 saves.

For Wheaton, Kyle Rumberger had three goals while Matthew Hillman and Will Morrison combined for four goals and five assists. In addition to a marker and two assists, Kyle Neale tallied game-highs of eight ground balls and four caused turnovers. In goal, Ryan Clair made 11 stops.

After trading the initial goals (1-1), UNE went on a 6-1 spurt over 13 minutes spanning into the 2nd period. The Lyons, however, pulled to within 8-6 by halftime.

Wheaton made it 8-7 early in the 3rd, but the Nor'easters regained separation with three straight before settling on an 11-8 cushion through 45 minutes.

Reid put Big Blue ahead, 12-9, with 4:31 to go, only to see the Lyons reduced the deficit to just one with 20 seconds remaining. The hosts won the ensuing face-off, but a turnover sealed the result for UNE.

The Nor'easters travel to Bates College on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest. Wheaton gets back to work the same afternoon against UMass Dartmouth.