BIDDEFORD, Maine - Senior Brian Girard (Norwood, Mass.) scored four goals in Nichols College's 20-8 loss at UNE Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's lacrosse action at the Big Blue Turf.

Junior attacker Geoff Bruno (Durham, Conn.) netted a personal-best seven goals to lead the Nor'easters. The win snapped a seven-game skid for UNE (4-10) and marked its first league win of the season (1-4). The Bison, meanwhile, fell to 2-10 (0-5 CCC). It was UNE's sixth-consecutive triumph over Nichols.

Freshman Peter Zygadlo (Hanover, Mass.) posted 21 saves for the Bison while junior Michael Bane (North Grafton, Mass.) contributed two goals and an assist to the offensive cause. Freshman Kevin D'Angelo (Pelham, N.H.) scooped up a game-best seven ground balls and won 17-of-31 face-offs.

Senior Patrick Wolfe (Phippsburg, Maine) added a pair of goals and four assists while freshmen Dan Auger (Nashua, N.H.) and J.T. Oliver (Damascus, Md.) combined for three goals and three helpers. Senior Dan O'Gorman (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) dished out two assist and picked up a team-high six ground balls.

Defensively, the Nor'easters got 12 saves over the initial 56.17 from sophomore goalie John Dusel (Wilbraham, Mass.). Sophomore Nick George (West Simsbury, Conn.) and Andrew Kelly (Sudbury, Mass.) helped form the UNE back line and accounted for seven of the team's 12 caused turnovers.

The Nor'easters controlled much of the first period, as Bruno had three scores and Wolfe three assists to help the hosts build a 5-1 cushion. Momentum swung over the Nichols in the second frame as Girard potted four goals. The Bison managed to tie things six before the Nor'easters took an 8-7 lead into the break.

UNE regained a comfortable lead in the third, notching the only five markers of the quarter to go up 13-7. The fourth stanza had more of the same as UNE extended to the 12-goal final margin.

During the closing 30 minutes, 10 different student-athletes found the back of the net for the Nor'easters. For the game, UNE held a 55-40 advantage in shots.

Both teams are scheduled for CCC dates on Tuesday. The Nor'easters will host Curry College (4 p.m.), and Nichols visits Gordon College (7 p.m.).

Courtesy of UNE sports information