BIDDEFORD, Maine –
Stephen Fogarty scored twice in the opening three minutes of Friday afternoon's non-conference men's lacrosse clash with Husson University, helping the University of New England jump on top early in what proved to be a wire-to-wire 8-5 victory on Blue Bolt Field.
Those early tallies were the only goals of the day for Fogarty, who passed the torch to
Preston Briggs – the Nor'easters' leading scorer with three goals. The majority of the Eagles' offense came from Kiernan Field, who matched Briggs for the game high.
After leading 2-0 at the 12:35 mark of the first quarter, UNE's next goal did not come until the final minute-and-change of the opening period – Briggs' first of the day.
Declan Mulkerin tacked on another early in the second quarter before Husson (3-2) buried its first with 6:38 remaining, helping the Eagles salvage a 4-1 halftime deficit.
Husson trimmed UNE's lead to as little as two goals during the second half, but three straight Nor'easter tallies -- starting with Briggs' last of the afternoon with only three seconds left in the third quarter -- eventually handed UNE (3-4) a commanding 8-3 lead late in the fourth. Husson's final two goals both came in the last two minutes, the first of which was on a man-up opportunity following the second of only two total penalties.
The Eagles struggled to maintain possession, converting just 18 of their 33 clearing attempts. UNE had no issue in transition, fulfilling each of its 15 clears. The Nor'easters also earned a 43-31 advantage in ground balls, led by
Eben Fagonde's five. Fagonde also scored his first career goal late in the fourth quarter, capping off UNE's 3-0 game-sealing run.
Cam Whitlock won seven of his 10 faceoffs, helping UNE claim a 10-7 advantage in that regard.
Goalkeeper Odin Burk helped keep Husson in it for much of the game, making 16 saves, while
Christian Berluti finished with eight for the Nor'easters.
UNE is set to head south during its spring break, visiting Hood College in Frederick, Maryland on Tuesday, March 17 at 6 p.m.
