Box Score Game Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine - The Western New England College men's lacrosse team maintained its top spot in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) with a 12-8 victory over upset-minded University of New England Saturday afternoon (Apr. 10).

This was the fifth win in the last six contests for the Golden Bears who are 8-4 overall and 7-1 in the conference.

Junior midfielder Mike Santare (South Salem, NY) came through with one of the best performances of his career with three goals and an assist.

Sophomore midfielder Billy Mason (Southborough, MA) and freshman midfielder Zach Robinson (Middlebury, VT) each tallied a pair of goals.

Western New England College took an early 2-0 on goals by freshman midfielder Anthony Bankers (Glastonbury, CT) and junior midfielder Marty O'Brien (West Springfield, MA) within 11 seconds of one another at the 8:34 mark. Mason then scored twice in the final 4:57 as the Golden Bears led 4-1 after the opening 15 minutes.

Freshman attacker Corrigan Harreys (Deep River, CT) and Robinson each tallied goals in the second period to give WNEC a 6-1 advantage at the break.

Santare gave the Golden Bears a six-shot margin at 12:09 of the third stanza before the Nor'easters stormed back with three unanswered goals, the last coming by junior midfielder Michael Woods (Kittery Point, ME) with 3:31 left in the period.

Once again Santare again came through with a clutch shot 47 seconds later for an 8-4 lead before UNE scored two goals in the final 1:57 to trail by only two entering the final quarter.

Santare and Robinson scored again to give the Golden Bears a 10-6 edge and the hosts couldn't make-up the difference.

Freshman defender Brian Leistikow (Fort Collins, CO) fired-in his first collegiate goal with 3:49 left to complete the scoring.

Sophomore midfielder Joe Martin (Springfield, MA) had a huge game for WNEC winning 18-of-21 face-offs and compiling 11 ground balls. Senior defender Nick Zaleski (Somers, CT) picked-up a game best 14 ground balls. Sophomore goalie Brewster Knowlton (Somers, CT) finished with seven saves.

Woods led the home team with three goals and an assist while sophomore midfielder Matt Anderson (St. Paul, MN) contributed a pair of goals. Sophomore goalie Nate Porter (Cohasset, MA) kept the Nor'easters in the game by stopping 19 shots. 

Senior defender Mike Sagaert (Colorado Springs, CO) and sophomore defender Chuck Dowd (Abington, MA) chipped-in with seven ground balls apiece.

The University of New England is 4-8 overall and 1-6 in the league.