Blondin's Five Points Not Enough As Thomas Men's Lacrosse Falls to MMA

WATERVILLE, Maine --- Sophomore Colby Blondin (Colchester, Vt. / Colchester) tallied a team-high five points on three goals and two assists, but Maine Maritime Academy defeated Thomas College, 14-6, in North Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse action on Wednesday at Smith Field.

The Terriers (0-4, 0-2 NAC) struck first when Blondin registered an unassisted tally at the midpoint of the opening quarter, but ith a goal from Colby Blondin, but the Mariners (2-5, 2-0 NAC) scored three straight to take a 3-1 lead at the quarter break. Maine Maritime picked up where it left off in the second quarter, outscoring Thomas 3-1 to take a 6-2 lead at halftime. Another unassisted goal by Blondin accounted for the Terriers' lone tally.

A pair of man-up goals gave the Mariners an 8-2 lead with 13:12 to play in the third quarter. Senior
Bryan Ferris (Whitman, Mass. / Whitman-Hanson) scored at the 12:10 mark, but back-to-back goals by Maine Maritime's Dean Samuelson made the score 10-3 with 7:21 to play. Senior Parker Chute (Brentwood, N.H. / Exeter) scored off an assist from Blondin with 3:12 remaining to cut the deficit to 10-4 entering the final quarter.

Samuelson tallied his sixth goal of the game just 1:17 into the fourth quarter, the first of four straight Maine Maritime goals, as the Mariners led 14-4 at the midway point of the quarter. A pair of late Terriers goals by senior Kade Strout (Richmond, Maine / Richmond) and Blondin cut the final advantage to 14-6.

Blondin led the Terriers with a hat trick and a pair of assists while scooping up six ground balls. He was also 9-of-20 on faceoffs. Senior Sheldon Jones (Lewiston, Maine / Lewiston) tallied three ground balls and caused two turnovers, while sophomore Jacob Kendall (Lewiston, Maine / Lewiston) scooped up two ground balls and caused two turnovers.

Samuelson led all players with six goals, while also dishing out an assist and scooping up a ground ball. Brendan Broderick had two goals and two assists with two ground balls, while Michael Martel tallied a pair of goals and scooped up a ground ball.

Cody Schell grabbed the win in net, stopping nine shots. For Thomas, sophomore Connor Lamberton (Shohola, Pa. / Delaware Valley) made 10 saves in just under 50 minutes of play. Dakota Gendreau played the final 10:49, making three stops.

Thomas continues its three-game homestand with a North Atlantic Conference matchup with New England College at 1 p.m. Saturday at Smith Field.