Buzzards Bay, Mass. – The Norwich University men's lacrosse team was not able to create much separation throughout the contest and was forced to battle back for a 10-9 non-conference victory over Massachusetts Maritime on Wednesday evening.

Payden Masaracchia (Enola, Pa.) and Matt Meehan (Norfolk, Mass.) each scored three goals, while Parker Campbell (Rockaway, N.J.) led the team with six assists. Jake Andrews-Pestana (Napa, Calif.) scored once and Jack Anzalone (Ridgewood, N.J.) and Jack Haley (Falkville, Ala.) each scored a goal. Thomas Kelliher (Shrewsbury, Mass.) made 11 saves while in net while Mason McMahon (Norwich, Conn.) picked up six ground balls.

In the opening quarter, Norwich jumped out to a 1-0 lead after Andrew Garrison (Berlin, N.J.) found an open Andrews-Pestana for the opening goal of the game, 7:29 into the opening quarter. Mass. Maritime responded with Mitchell Maida scoring on a man-up opportunity 1:28 later.

Campbell then dished out an assist with 5:25 remaining to goal-scorer Andrews-Pestana to retake the lead. The Buccaneers then evened the score with 4:41 remaining in the first half to go into the second with the game knotted at two apiece.

After Meehan scored a goal to give the Cadets a 3-2 advantage, Mass. Maritime evened things up, but Norwich then scored three straight goals, two of which were from Masaracchia, the first marking his 100th career goal, to take a 6-3 lead into halftime.

Coming out of the half, the Buccaneers held the Cadets scoreless through the first 14:54 of play, before Haley converted on a shot with six seconds remaining in the quarter to give the Cadets a 7-6 advantage.

Mass. Maritime again scored three-straight goals, including a pair of man-up opportunities, taking a 9-7 lead over Norwich with 7:52 remaining. Anzalone was then on a receiving end of a pass from Garrison, that Anzalone then put into the back of the net, cutting the Buccaneer advantage to one with 4:44 left in regulation. Norwich then evened things up when Meehan put one past the Mass. Maritime goalkeeper with 3:40 on the clock.

The Cadets scored the game winning goal with 33 seconds remaining in the contest, when Campbell found Masaracchia in front of the goal, and Masaracchia turned and fired a shot into the net.

Norwich (3-0, 0-0 GNAC) will face Curry on Friday, Mar. 11 at 4 pm before they host Southern Maine on Sunday, Mar. 13 at 2 pm on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.  The Cadets will then travel to Emmanuel on Saturday, Mar. 19 to open up Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.