HENNIKER, N.H. –  The Roger Williams University Men's Lacrosse team fell on the road to New England College 13-9 on Saturday afternoon in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) matchup.

With the win the Pilgrims improve to 11-4 overall and 6-2 in the TCCC. The loss drops the Hawks to 7-6 on the season and 6-3 in the TCCC.

New England College senior John Gabriel (West Nyack, N.Y.) recorded three goals and dished out three assists leading the Pilgrims past the Hawks.

The two teams would exchange goals to open up the game before NEC's Gabriel and Matt Carey (Medford, N.Y.) would give the Pilgrims the 3-1 lead scoring back-to-back goals within 30 seconds of each other.  Roger Williams would cut the lead to 3-2 thanks to an unassisted goal by Jim Turenne (Bristol, R.I.) at the 8:07 mark in the first.  The Pilgrims would respond closing out the opening quarter with two unanswered goals, including unassisted goal by Chris Harris (Baltimore, Md.), heading into the second up 5-2.

The two teams would battle evenly through much of the second quarter as NEC's Phil DiFalco (Scarsdale, N.Y.) would put the Pilgrims up 6-3 early but Drew Smith (Blue Point, N.Y.) and Logan Roebuck (Pine Bush, N.Y.) would both net goals for Roger Williams, as the Hawks would head into halftime trailing just 7-4.

The NEC offense would come alive in the third quarter as the Pilgrims would open up the third quarter with four straight goals extending their lead to 11-4. Roger Williams would battle back with four straight scores of their own, including two in the third quarter and two to open the fourth quarter, down 11-8 with 9:03 left in regulation.

NEC's Gabriel would give the Pilgrims some breathing room late recording his third goal of the afternoon at the 8:40 mark.  Roger Williams' Turenne would get the goal back firing in a shot just under a minute later but NEC's Colin Gordon (Manchester, Mass.) would finish the scoring converting on a Pilgrim power-play solidifying the 13-9 victory.

NEC outshot Roger Williams 44-39 on the afternoon. Matt Carey finished with two goals and an assist, while Sam Freihofner (Scarsdale, N.Y.) would hand out three assists.

Leading the way for Roger Williams was Drew Smith (Blue Point, N.Y.) who finished with three goals and an assist and Logan Roebuck who netted three goals for the Hawks.

Picking up the win in net for NEC was Nick Aquaviva (Syracuse, N.Y.) who finished the afternoon with 13 saves.  In goal for Roger Williams was Tyler Roebuck (Pine Bush, N.Y.) who recorded 14 saves on the afternoon.

NEC returns to action on Wednesday, April 20 when they host conference opponent University of New England.  Roger Williams will host conference foe Endicott College on Wednesday, April 20.

- Release courtesy of New England College Sports Information Department