STANDISH, ME – Norwich University (7-4, 5-2 GNAC) defeated Saint Joseph's (9-7, 4-3 GNAC), 11-7, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's lacrosse contest at Westerlea Way Field on Saturday afternoon. Spencer Hunt '13 (Jeffersonville, VT) recorded two goals and an assist in the losing effort.
The conference tilt stood at a 5-5 deadlock at halftime, but the Cadets opened the third period with four straight goals to secure a 9-5 cushion. The Monks responded with the next two goals of the game, but Norwich managed to stave off the hosts' comeback bid by netting two tallies in the last 2:21 to take the victory.
Prior to the start of the game the Monks' four seniors – Elliot LaMarre (Raymond, ME), Ross Hardaway (East Boston, MA), Blake Edwards (Glide, OR) and Tookie Amosun (Gardiner, ME) – were honored with a ceremony to recognize their individual contributions. The program's first four-year class has seen the team post a 25-37 record, including winning seasons in 2010 and 2011.
St. Joe's held a 3-2 lead after the first quarter as Johnny Magwood '14 (Ellicott City, MD) broke a 2-2 tie with an unassisted marker at the 9:23 mark. The one-goal edge held until Cadets sophomore midi Arron Canarelli (New Hartford, NY) scored a pair of goals in a matter of 50 seconds to lift the visitors to a 4-3 advantage four minutes into the second stanza.
The Monks responded in kind as Jake Ricciardi '14 (Sharon, MA) tied the game at the 7:55 mark and Zachary Chaisson '14 (Concord, NH) put the hosts on top with 4:18 left in the second quarter, but Norwich attacker Marco Wiederaenders '14 (Denver, CO) knotted the tilt once again 38 seconds before the half.
Neither team found the back of the cage during the first four minutes of the third quarter, but the Cadets ended the short drought with goals just 14 seconds apart. Ian Thomas '14 (Barrington, RI) made it a 6-5 game at the 10:54 mark and Joey Ditommaso '14 (Hubbard, OH) doubled the visitor's lead with 10:40 remaining in the third.
Thomas tallied his second marker of the game, a man-down score, off a Tyler Woods '11 (Essex Jct., VT) over three minutes later and Ditommaso hit paydirt for the second time at the 6:08 mark to lift the Cadets to a 9-5 lead.
Hunt put the Monks back on the board at the 3:52 mark of the third and Paul Dolewa '12 (Saco, ME) recorded a man-up marker with 2:53 remaining in the contest to cut the Monks' deficit to 9-7, Jonathan Horgan '12 (Hingham, MA) assisted on both SJC goals.
The Monks' momentum would not last long, however, as Judd Baggett '13 (Newtown, CT) netted an unassisted goal 32 seconds later and Thomas capped his hat-trick effort with a marker at the 1:04 mark to close out the game scoring with the Cadets on top, 11-7.
For the Monks, Horgan tallied a goal and two assists and Chaisson netted a goal and an assist in the loss. LaMarre scooped up a team-high seven ground balls and Robert Murtha '13 (North Kingstown, RI) added three caused turnovers on the afternoon.
For the Cadets, Ditomamaso and Wiederaenders netted two goals apiece and Andrew Dustin '14 (Canterbury, NH) corralled a game-high 10 ground balls. Nate Fortezzo '13 (Branford, CT) won 16 of 20 face-off attempts for the visitors.
Norwich held advantages in shots (26-23), ground balls (49-38) and face-off wins (18-4) in the conference win.
Saint Joseph's and Norwich had not met in men's lacrosse action prior to today's contest. The GNAC Tournament bracket is expected to be announced on Monday. The tourney begins on Tuesday.
