Statistics

ASTON, Pa. – Preston Briggs and Joe O'Keefe scored three goals apiece to help the University of New England men's lacrosse team take home a 10-6 win over Neumann on Thursday in the Nor'easters' final non-conference test.
 
The Knights (2-6) struck first, but a 4-0 run allowed the Nor'easters (5-4) to build a lead during the low-scoring first half. Briggs and Kyle Dunn both scored twice in the second half, including during a stretch of three straight man-up UNE goals, to help maintain a slight edge down the stretch. Evan Hazard backstopped the Nor'easters' victory with 18 saves.
 
In addition to his three goals, Briggs dished out four assists to finish with a career-high seven points. O'Keefe's three goals matched his career high and came with five groundballs and three caused turnovers, both being team-bests for the day.
 
Matt Morris matched Briggs and O'Keefe with three goals for Neumann. Luke Sykes scored two goals and was among a pair of Knights with seven groundballs, helping the hosts claim a slim 41-39 advantage in that regard.
 
UNE outscored Neumann, 2-1, in both the first and second quarters to go into halftime with a 4-2 edge. Each of the Nor'easters' four first-half goals came consecutively with a Knights tally slid in on either side of the run. Having allowed a goal in the first two minutes of the third quarter, UNE buried three unanswered with Briggs, Stephen Fogarty and Dunn handing Neumann a 7-4 deficit by the start of the fourth. Each of those three goals came in man-up fashion.
 
The Knights turned in their best offensive showing in the fourth quarter with three goals, but Dunn, O'Keefe and Briggs had the answers to help UNE maintain a cushion of at least three.
 
UNE is set to visit Endicott for the Conference of New England opener on Wednesday, March 26 at 7 p.m.