GORHAM, Maine - A strong second-half showing by the University of Southern Maine Huskies gave the Norwich University men's lacrosse team a 12-9 defeat in non-conference play on USM's Hannaford Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Six Cadets logged goals, with the trio of Chris Smith (Dawsonville, Ga.), Coley Bagwell (York, Pa.), and Alex Johnston (Franklin, Tenn.) tallying two goals apiece.  Hunter Dixson (Valley Falls, N.Y.), Matt Meehan (Norfolk, Mass.), and Mitchell McKay (Lynnfield, Mass.) added a goal each to round out the offensive effort, with Meehan earning assists on two scores.

Despite the Huskies rushing out to a 4-1 lead just minutes into the second quarter, Norwich responded in dominant fashion, ripping off four unanswered, including three in a minute span, to close the opening stanza and claim a 5-4 lead.

McKay added a fifth goal to the running tally shortly after the start of the third period, as the Cadets enjoyed a pair of two-goal leads with a USM score sandwiched in between.  After Johnston's second goal gave Norwich a 7-5 edge, however, the Huskies regained control, courtesy of seven-straight goals.

The Cadets were able to respond with a pair in the closing sequences, first on an unassisted Bagwell goal before Meehan found Smith at the 3:48 mark, but Southern Maine's Tanner Nussinow stood stout in the crease, collecting 14 saves on the afternoon.

Norwich will now turn its attention to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener on Saturday, Mar. 18, which sees the Cadets host Emmanuel College in a 4:00 p.m. bout on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.