NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth senior Adam Niden (Walpole, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal early in the fourth quarter to lift the Corsairs to an 11-9 victory over Wentworth this afternoon in a non-conference men's lacrosse game at Cressy Field.
UMass Dartmouth (5-1) utilized a successful ride to produce the game-winning goal. Freshman Sean Peters (Medway, Mass.) intercepted a Wentworth clearing attempt at midfield and found Niden in transition. Niden delivered the decisive strike under the upper left crossbar. Senior Justin Lawless (Quincy, Mass.) tacked on an insurance marker halfway through the final frame to hand the Corsairs their third victory at home this season.
Niden powered the UMass Dartmouth offensive attack with a season-high five points, including four goals. Classmate Todd Davis (Sandwich, Mass.) tallied a marker and three helpers, while junior Riley Baxter (Groton, Mass.) and sophomore Bo Prozinski (Ashland, Mass.) each produced three points on a goal and two helpers. Sophomore Zach Drolette (Burlington, Vt.) was dominate at the X, winning 10 of his 13 restarts. Senior Steve Tarpey (Shrewsbury, Mass.) scooped up seven ground balls and caused five turnovers.
Junior Ryan Coakley (Flemington, N.J.) led the Leopards (3-3), who saw their three-game win streak snapped, with three points. Senior Steve Glover (Marston Mills, Mass.) and sophomore Nick Parent (Windham, N.H.) each netted a pair of markers.
The Corsairs opened the scoring just two minutes, 14 seconds into the contest, when Niden converted a feed from Prozinski. Wentworth responded with four unanswered goals, including a pair from senior Chris Kipp (Scarborough, Maine.), to take its largest advantage of the contest.
UMass Dartmouth capitalized on a two-minute penalty to whittle its deficit to 4-3, when junior Dennis Healy (Hanover, Mass.) and Prozinski found the back of the net 39 seconds apart.
The Corsairs closed out the first half with three consecutive markers to regain their lead heading into the halftime intermission. Senior Jordan MacPherson (Westwood, Mass.) fueled the surge with an extra-man goal, while Baxter and Niden capped the first half scoring for a 6-5 advantage.
Niden continued to have the hot hand, scoring just 43 seconds into the third quarter. Both teams traded markers before the Leopards registered back-to-back goals to forge an 8-all tie at the end of the third.
In between the pipes, senior Nick Thayer (Chelmsford, Mass.) made nine saves, including five in the final period, to backstop UMass Dartmouth to the victory. Classmate Jared Proulx (Nashua, N.H.) was sensational in the Leopards' cage, recording 21 stops.
The Corsairs held a 52-23 advantage in shots, while owning the collecting 30 ground balls and forcing 23 turnovers. UMass Dartmouth was efficient on its extra-man opportunities, converting on three of five chances, while stopping all three Wentworth situations.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 7 p.m. on March 25, when the Corsairs travel to Connecticut College. Wentworth will also be on the road in its next game, visiting Western New England at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 27.
(Recap courtesy of UMass Dartmouth Sports Information)
