DUDLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Dolan McCarthy (Hyde Park, Mass.) scored four goals to lead the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's lacrosse team over Nichols College, 11-8, Tuesday evening at Vendetti Field.
The Leopards improve to 6-2 overall with their first win against the Bison since 2015, and climb to 2-1 in conference, while Nichols falls to 8-2 this season and 1-1 against league opponents.
The Bison held a 3-1 lead after the first quarter despite senior Kevin Butler's (Jefferson, Mass.) unassisted tally at the 12-minute mark, as Nichols senior Brian McKinley (Nashua, N.H.) kept the Leopards at bay with six saves in the stretch. Butler netted his second of the game to break open the second quarter before sophomore Kyle Doner (Lindenhurst ,N.Y.) tied things up 3-3 with 10:20 to play in the half. McKinley again came up big for the Bison with five saves in the second frame, as juniors Brayden Carroll (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Jack Campanale (Shrewsbury, Mass.) kept Nichols in front, 5-4, heading into halftime.
Doner netted his second of the game for the contests' third deadlock, 5-5, but the Bison got one back to regain the lead from Campanale. With 1:30 left in the third, Wentworth took its first lead of the game, 7-6, after back-to-back goals from McCarthy with one quarter left to play.
Despite Nichols tying things up for the last time on a goal from senior Mackenzie Martin (Merrimack, N.H.), Wentworth went on a four-goal tear to regain the advantage 11-7. Freshman Brendan Coates (Grafton, Mass.) snuck in a last-minute goal with 19 seconds left to play, but the fourth quarter surge from Wentworth sealed the 11-8 victory for the Leopards.
Doner finished with a hat-trick performance next to McCarthy's four goals, while Butler rounded out double-digit offense with two goals in the winning effort. Junior Jacob Eldred (Goffstown, N.H.) and freshman Ben Coakley (Flemington, N.J.) finished with one goal apiece.
Junior Peter Andersson (Madison, N.J.) scooped up a game-high nine ground balls, and dominated the faceoff X going 18-of-23. Eldred and Senior Jake Ollila (Goffstown, N.H.) each picked up four ground balls, respectively.
Seniors Scott Boucher (Salisbury, N.H.) and Adam Dufault (Lexington, mass.) each made five saves in equal time in net, with Dufault earning the victory.
Wentworth is back on the road for its next contest on Saturday for a 12:00 p.m. tilt at Endicott.
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