DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Mount Ida College men's lacrosse team will turn their attentions to this Saturday's home opener after ending their three-game road trip to start the season with an 18-9 loss to University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in a non-conference contest on Wednesday afternoon at Cressy Field.
The Mustangs (1-2) will play that home opener on Saturday afternoon when they host Wentworth at 3:00 pm as part of a lacrosse doubleheader at Alumni Field.
Junior Jon Berry (Chichester, N.H.) led the charge for the Mustangs with a hat trick, while classmate Chad Coehlo (Salem, Mass.) netted two goals and added a helper. Sophomore Alex Zito (Marlboro, Mass.) turned in a solid performance from the X, winning 14 of 24 restarts and picking up seven ground balls. Classmate Cam Hayward (Derry, N.H.) also reached double digits in saves with 10.
Corsairs senior Bo Prozinski (Ashland, Mass.) scored a career-high eight goals and junior Matt Lafond (Bridgewater, Mass.) produced a career-best 18 saves.
UMass Dartmouth (2-1) utilized a well-balanced scoring attack as 11 student-athletes registered at least one point to help the hosts' post their highest offensive output of the season. Prozinski recorded multiple markers in the opening three quarters, including three goals in the second. Sophomore DJ Miller (Ashland, Mass.) posted five points, on two goals and three assists, while Steve Merrick (Methuen, Mass.) tallied a season-best four points. Freshman Zach Walker (Andover, Mass.) also found the back of the net twice.
Lafond earned his first victory of the season, playing the full 60 minutes in net. The junior netminder from Bridgewater, Mass. was sharp from the opening whistle, making seven of 18 stops in the first 15 minutes.
Mount Ida led early in the second quarter, but UMass Dartmouth scored five of the next six goals to grab a lead they would not relinquish. Prozinski netted three markers during the stretch, while freshman Jimmy Hirtle (Tewksbury, Mass.) and senior Andrew Johnson (Hopkinton, Mass.) also factored into the scoring.
Mount Ida scored with 43 seconds left in the frame, but the Corsairs took a 7-5 advantage into the locker room.
UMass Dartmouth carried its momentum into the third quarter, registering eight of the nine goals to break open the contest. Miller, Prozinski, and Walker each contributed two markers during the decisive run.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, when the Corsairs travel to Lasell College.