BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore attackman Nick Gross (Kennebunk, Maine) tallied three goals and an assist as the University of New England men's lacrosse team used a 5-0 run in the second half to snap a 2-all tie and defeat Wentworth, 7-3, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action at Sweeney Field.
Gross got the Nor'Easters on the board with the first period's only goal, an unassisted tally with 6:17 remaining. A minute and 37 seconds into the second quarter the Leopards tied the game when freshman midfielder Nicholas Fournier (Hopkinton, Mass.) fed sophomore attackman Steve Glover (Marstons Mills, Mass.).
UNE pulled ahead when senior midfielder Mike Pennacchio (Peabody, Mass.) fed senior attackman Dylan Thomas (Mount Pleasant, N.Y.) for a man-up goal with 10:07 left in the half. The lead stayed at 2-1 until sophomore attackman Jeff Guilherme (Derry, N.H.) found Glover in front of the net with 3:56 left to even the score at 2-all.
Scoring three times in a span of 2:26 the Nor'Easters took a 5-2 lead late in the third quarter. Freshman midfielder Shamus Higginbottom (New Milford, Conn.) gave the visitors a 3-2 lead with 3:35 left in the third, followed by a marker from Pennacchio two minutes later. Gross fed junior attackman Tyler Thomas (Mount Pleasant, N.Y.) with 1:09 left to make it a three-goal game.
Gross scored both of the Nor'Easter's fourth quarter goals, coming in a span of 1:51 and extending the lead to 7-2 before Leopard junior Mark Pappas (Worcester, Mass.) rounded out the scoring with a goal, assisted by freshman Michael Cushera (Waltham, Mass.).
Sophomore Midfielder Dan O'Gorman (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) dominated the face-off X, winning 10 of 13 face-offs and collecting a game-high nine ground balls. Senior Nate Porter (Cohasset, Mass.) made eight saves in the win for UNE, who held a 35-20 shot advantage and a 51-35 ground ball advantage.
Glove scored two of the Leopards' three goals, while junior defender Tyler Forthofer (Glastonbury, Conn.) picked up a team-high seven ground balls. Junior Jared Proulx (Nashua, N.H.) made 10 saves.
With the win UNE improves to 6-4 overall and 1-1 in CCC play. The Nor'Easters travel to Roger Williams on Saturday. Wentworth falls to 1-4 (0-1) and is at Nichols on Saturday.
