Golden Bears pull away in 3rd to take 12-6 win

Statistics


BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Western New England outscored the University of New England 7-2 in the third quarter to open up a close contest on its way to a 12-6 victory in Conference of New England men's lacrosse action Friday afternoon (Mar. 28) at Blue Bolt Field.

After UNE scored two of the first three goals after halftime to get within two (6-4), the Golden Bears reeled off six unanswered goals over the final 8:13 of the frame to take control. Griffin LaRochelle and Jacob Roy each notched a pair of tallies to key the surge.

Western New England (5-5, 2-0 CNE) slowed the pace in the fourth and was held scoreless, while the Nor'easters came up with a pair of goals for the final margin of 12-6.

LaRochelle finished with three scores to lead all players. Roy, Max Rudgers and Logan Jenkins added a pair for WNE, which held a commanding 50-22 margin in shots. Zachary Mein contributed a game-high three assists to the Golden Bear attack, while Jenkins added two helpers to his two-goal performance for a match-best four points. 

Shea Fogarty, Preston Briggs and Ean LaRochelle each scored twice to account for UNE's scoring output.

The game was tied at 2-all after one quarter before the visitors took the lead for good by blanking the Nor'easters 3-0 in the second stanza.

WNE's Rocco DeSimone was dominant at the face-off dot, winning 16 of 21 draws and controlling nine ground balls to lead all players. Ryan Quinlan contributed four ground balls and three caused turnovers to the victorious effort. Goalkeeper Jonathon Salsbury needed six stops to earn the victory.

Eben Fagonde came up with five ground balls to pace UNE in that category. Evan Hazard totaled 13 saves defending the cage.

The Nor'easters (5-6, 0-2) will be looking for their first conference win of the season Tuesday (Apr. 1) when they head to Boston to take on Wentworth Institute of Technology for a match scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m.