HENNIKER, NH. - The Norwich University men's lacrosse team failed to convert a late two-goal lead in a closely contested 10-8 non-conference loss to New England College on Saturday afternoon at Don Melander Field. The loss was the Cadets' 22nd-straight loss to the Pilgrims with the last eight contests being decided by three goals or less.

Following the game, the Pilgrims move to 1-1 on the year, while the Cadets fall to 1-1. 

Norwich got off to an inauspicious start, surrendering the first three goals of the game to find itself down 3-0 after just five minutes had elapsed. A corrective timeout by the Cadets seemed to rectify the style of play in favor of the visitors. 

After much jockeying in the midfield, Norwich was able to exert some of its offensive firepower that had been evident in its first game when freshman Mitchell McKay (Lynnfield, Mass.) found the back of the net on an unassisted effort to cut the lead to 3-1. The Cadets' graduate Jack Anzalone (Ridgewood, N.J.) would strike for his sixth goal of the season a few minutes later to bring the quarter to a close at 3-2. 

After giving up the first goal of the second quarter, Norwich again found its stride late as the Cadets knotted the score at 4-4 with a pair of goals from junior Parker Campbell (Rockaway, N.J.) and Anzalone. 

The teams drew to a defensive draw over the next 12 minutes with neither team able to generate a decisive attack until the Cadets scored with five minutes left in the third to claim their first lead of the game. Freshman Jack Haley (Falkville, Ala.) demonstrated some deft dodges through the middle of the Pilgrims defense to score on an unassisted effort. 

A couple of minutes later the Cadets scored again for a 6-4 lead in what would be their largest of the game. Anzalone used a pass from McKay to rip his third goal of the game. 

The Pilgrims battled right back through the end of the third quarter to square the game at 6-6. 

Norwich would strike first in the fourth quarter as it scored on an unassisted run to goal by McKay for a 7-6 lead with eight minutes to play. 

NEC would proceed to score three-straight to take a 9-7 lead with just over four minutes to play. About a minute later Campbell struck again to cut the lead to one with three minutes to play, but the Cadets were unable to produce any more scoring opportunities as NEC would possess the ball through to the final horn to seal the Cadets fate. 

Mark Pasquariello recorded 12 saves in the win for NEC, while junior Andrew Morgan (Derry, N.H.) registered eight stops for Norwich.

Norwich received multiple-goal games from Anzalone, Campbell, and McKay with Anzalone notching a hat trick. Norwich received fine defensive play from senior Sean Wallace (Sandy Hook, Conn.) and freshman Mason McMahon (Norwich, Conn.) who combined for seven caused turnovers.

The Cadets return home for their next game as the team will host Saint Joseph's of Maine on Saturday at 1 p.m.