For the seventh time in as many years, the Mount Ida College men’s lacrosse program will advance to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championship game after a 14-5 victory over visiting Maine Maritime Wednesday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts. The Mustangs, who will host the title contest against visiting conference rival Castleton State College, improves to 12-6 overall and continues their perfect NAC winning streak at 11-0. The Mariners finish up their 2010 season with a 7-7 overall record and end at 7-3 in NAC play.
After a quiet start in the opening six minutes of the contest, the Mustangs struck twice with goals, one each from sophomore Dan Harrington (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) and freshman Nick Yacuzzi (Oakham, MA/St. John’s), for the 2-0 advantage with 4:46 to go in the first quarter.
The Mariners got on the board with 2:36 to go in the opening frame on a sophomore Andrew DiSalvo (Glastonbury, CT/Xavier) goal off a dish from junior Christopher Keiley (Holliston, MA/Holliston) cutting the host lead to 2-1.
The one goal separation did not last very long with Mount Ida going on a 5-0 run that started at the tail end of the first and lasted into the 10th minute of the second quarter. Junior captain Derek Broughton (Peabody, MA/Peabody) and sophomore Derek O’Reilly (East Setuaket, NY/Ward Melville) notched two scores a piece during the five goal run while junior Bill Eagan (North Andover, MA/North Andover) added the other leading 7-2.
The teams exchanged two goals apiece to finish the second frame with Keiley notching both for the Mariners. Senior Christopher Prophete (Waltham, MA/Waltham) and Yacuzzi added one apiece for the Mustangs giving the hosts a commanding 9-3 advantage heading into the break.
Mount Ida scored two goals to open their third quarter with one each from Prophete and junior Matthew Savage (Peabody, MA/Peabody) for the 11-3 lead for the only goals in the third set.
Although junior Wade Mondoux (North Berwick, ME/Noble) would score to open the fourth quarter (11-4), Mount Ida score the last three out of four goals from senior transfer Brandon Keith (Barnstable, MA/Barnstable), junior Dan Harrington (Westford, MA/Westford Academy), and freshman Mike Durand (Londonderry, NH/Londonderry) for the 14-5 win. MMA freshman Tom Houle (Manchester, NH/Kents Hill) scored the final goal for the Mariners.
The Mustangs dominated every major statistical category during the contest leading in groundballs (57), shots (52), and face-offs (16-22). Mount Ida senior face-off specialist Matthew Vernik (Bethany, CT/Amity Regional) continues his reign in the middle circle going 14-20 on the day with 10 groundballs. The Mount Ida defense, led by senior’s Kevin Mulvey (Peabody, MA/Peabody), Bryan Seaman (Peabody, MA/Peabody), Dan Kelley (Bethany, CT/Amity Regional) and long stick middy Carl Grimo (Bristol, RI/LaSalle Academy), was again as solid as a rock surrendering only five goals.
Prophete and O’Reilly flourished statistically today with two goals and three assists each to lead the Mustangs. Harrington, Yacuzzi, and Broughton all added two scores apiece while Savage, Keith, Eagan, and Durand all notched one. Freshman Jake Davis (Chester, NH/Pinkerton Academy) added two assists.
Mount Ida netminder Jimmy McAllister (Smithfield, RI/LaSalle Academy) played the first three quarters and was outstanding to say the least denying nine Mariner shots surrendering three of the five visiting goals. Sophomore Craig Naftal (Bellmore, NY/JFK) saw the final quarter notching three saves.
The Mustangs will host the NAC championship game this coming Saturday at Mount Ida Athletic Stadium against visiting conference rival Castleton State College starting at 1:00 p.m.