Long with career day for Panthers

            NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth scored three unanswered goals over the final eight minutes of the game, including a pair by junior Nick Brett (Loudon, N.H.), and the Corsairs pulled out a 13-10 victory over Plymouth State University in Little East Conference men's lacrosse action at Cressy Field.

            The game was very close the entire way, with the margin no more than two goals until the final two minutes of the game.  UMD never trailed, and six times PSU came from behind six times to tie the game.  The Panthers knotted the score at 6-6, 7-7, and 8-8 in the third period, and 9-9 in the first minute of the fourth.  PSU tied it for the final time at 10-10 with 9:45 remaining in the game, but Brett tallied unassisted goals with 6:55 and 5:34 on the clock, and freshman Adam Niden (Walpole, Mass.) added his fourth of the game for insurance with 2:30 to play.

            UMD continued its strong season, improving to 9-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.  PSU had a two-game winning streak stopped and falls to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in the Little East.

            Niden and Brett each finished with four goals and two assists to lead the Corsairs.  Five others contributed one goal apiece for the winners.

            Sophomore Ty Long (Dover, N.H.) topped the Panthers with career-highs of four goals and six points (two assists), while freshman Chris Annunciata (Waltham, Mass.) scored three times.  Sophomore Mike Ventura (Columbia, N.J.) tallied a goal and an assist, and classmate Stephen Patch (Newbury, N.H.) contributed a game-high four assists.

            UMD finished with a 37-25 shots advantage, picked up more ground balls by a 42-29 count, and won 18 of 27 face-offs.  Freshman goalie Nick Thayer (somewhere) made five saves for the Corsairs to post the victory while senior Kevin Hayes (Beverly, Mass.) made nine saves for PSU.

            After nine straight road games to open the season, Plymouth State returns home to host Salem State University next Saturday in the home opener at Panther Field.  UMD plays a non-conference game Thursday at Roger Williams. 

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