BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Sophomore Dan Auger (Nashua, N.H.) registered eight points, including a program single-game record tying six assists, to help guide the University of New England men's lacrosse team in a 16-5 victory over Saint Joseph's College (Maine) on Thursday afternoon (Mar. 12) at the Big Blue Turf.
Auger's performance matches the UNE mark established by Dylan Thomas '12 back during his junior season.
The Nor'easters (3-1) have won each of the three all-time meetings with the Monks (0-2).
Senior Shamus Higginbottom (New Milford, Conn.) and sophomore David Rubenstein (Somers, N.Y.) each tallied three goals for the Big Blue attack, including two apiece as the hosts posted a 4-0 cushion after 12 minutes of action. Auger had three helpers by the end of the opening period, finding junior Sam Cloutier (Lewiston, Maine) to make the advantage five.
Cloutier scored twice for UNE, as did sophomore Keston Beauregard (Pelham, N.H.). The other goals came from senior Pat Reid (Southington, Conn.), sophomores Philip Young (Unionville, Pa.) and Remy Watt (Merrimack, N.H.), and first-year Drew Sommerhof (Towson, Md.).
Auger also had a team-high six ground balls for the Nor'easters, who posted a 47-28 edge in the category. UNE, which out-shot its opponent by a 50-29 disparity, received three 1st-half saves from junior John Dusel (Wilbraham, Mass.) and eight 2nd-half stops from sophomore David Pearson (Scarborough, Maine).
Saint Joseph's was led by first-year Matt Donnell (Watertown, Mass.) with two goals. Junior Jake O'Brien (Andover, Mass.) added a goal and two assists, while classmate Dom Dirupo (Wilmington, Mass.) and first-year Luigi Grimaldi (Portland, Maine) contributed the other markers. First-year defender Liam Skinner (Irving, Texas) notched game-highs of eight ground balls and three caused turnovers, and between the pipes, senior starting goalie Ethan Rettew (Ephrata, Pa.) logged 11 saves in 42 minutes of work.
UNE led 6-1 at halftime and 11-3 through three quarters, before pushing the spread into double digits in the 4th frame.
The Nor'easters will be at home again on Saturday (12 p.m.), entertaining MIT. The Monks will host Anna Maria College the same afternoon (12:30 p.m.) to begin their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) slate.
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
