Pilgrims take down Seahawks in TCCC action, 19-11

HENNIKER, N.H. - New England College first-year attack Steve Parsons (Townsend, Mass.) recorded five goals and dished out an assist leading the Pilgrims past the visiting Salve Regina University Seahawks 19-11 Saturday afternoon in Henniker.

The win is the fifth straight for the Pilgrims who improve to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC). The loss drops the Seahawks to 5-4 overall and evens their conference record at 2-2.

The two teams exchanged goals in the opening minutes as NEC's Phil DiFalco (Scarsdale, N.Y.) struck first scoring at the 9:12 mark followed by Salve Regina's Chris Walker (Marshfield, Mass.) at the 7:06 mark. The teams swapped goals again before NEC closed out the quarter on a 6-0 run building an 8-2 lead heading into the second.

NEC extended its lead to 11-2 in the opening minutes of the second quarter as Sam Freihofner (Scarsdale, N.Y.), Parsons and John Gabiel (West Nyack, N.Y.) each tallied a goal. Salve Regina's Brendan Rooney (West Newton, Mass.) respond netting two man-down goals in a 20 second span cutting the NEC lead to 11-4. The Seahawks outscored the Pilgrims 2-1 in the final minutes of the second quarter slicing the Pilgrim lead to 12-6 heading into halftime.

Salve Regina continued to chip away early in the third quarter as junior Brendan Carroll (Garden City, N.Y.) and Walker scored making it a 12-8 game. NEC answered closing out the quarter with four unanswered goals, including two by Parsons, rebuilding their lead to 16-8.

Salve Regina got within six goals in the final quarter but NEC closed out the game with two late goals solidifying the 19-11 victory.

The Seahawks finished the game with the slight 49-46 advantage in shots.

NEC's John Gabriel netted four goals, while Sam Freihofner and Ryan Von Uffel (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) each finished with three goals.

Rooney led the way for the Seahawks scoring three goals and dishing out an assist.

Picking up the win in net for NEC was Nick Aquaviva (Syracuse, N.Y.) who finished the afternoon with 22 saves. Seeing the bulk of the time in net for Salve Regina was senior Brett Pimental (East Falmouth, Mass.) 11 saves.

NEC returns to action on Monday, April 4 when they travel to take on non-conference opponent University of Southern Maine. Salve Regina will hit the field again on Monday, April 4 when they host conference foe Endicott College.

(Courtesy of New England College sports information)