WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior Payden Masaracchia had a performance for the ages scoring a career-best 9 times to help the Norwich University men's lacrosse team double up University of Saint Joseph (USJ) during Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on the USJ Lacrosse Field on Saturday afternoon.

The win is the third in a row for Norwich (4-1, 3-0 GNAC) while the loss evens USJ's (3-3, 2-2 GNAC) won-loss record.

No one was stopping Norwich's attackman Payden Masaracchia (Enola, Pa.) who netted a whopping nine goals on ten shots on goal for the game. He nearly doubled the number of goals he had entering the game on the season (10). Freshman Mitchell McKay (Lynnfield, Mass.) and junior Parker Campbell (Rockaway, N.J.) each added two goals with Campbell tallying a trio of assists.  

The Cadets scored five straight, including a natural hat trick by Masaracchia in the first quarter, to lead 5-0 after the opening period. USJ bounced back though scoring five of the next seven between the second and third periods to close the deficit to 7-5 with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The reigning champs would not be outdone, however, as their experience paid off slowly but surely pulling away on a series of sensational individual moves from Masaracchia, who put it all on display before the final horn. The Cadets walked out with a seven-goal win outshooting the Blue Jays 49-26.

Both teams struggled with the man advantage producing a combined 2-for-9 in man-up situations. The Cadets held USJ to a season 26 shots.

Senior Nick Kandra (Crofton, Md.) picked up the win (4-0), allowing just two goals and making four saves in 30 minutes. A pair of other Cadets split time in the second half as freshman Thomas Kelliher (Shrewsbury, Mass.) made seven saves in his collegiate deubt in 25 minutes while senior Perry Grzela (Swampscott, Mass.) closed out the win in net.

It was a near stalemate at midfield, as both faceoff-men waged war over the course of 60 minutes. Norwich's freshman Thomas Muraski (Keller, Texas) edged USJ's Samuel Barbetti, 13-11, on the day.

Norwich will look to next Saturday for its next game when it takes to the road to face GNAC rival Lasell at 1 p.m.