THE BASICS:
 
- Score: Endicott College 15, MIT 13
 
- Records: MIT (0-1); Endicott (2-0)
 
- Location: Beverly, Mass. (Hempstead Stadium)
 
- The Lead: The MIT men's lacrosse team fell to Endicott College, 15-13, in its season opener on Friday afternoon. Graduate student Ryan Gebhardt (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and junior Jack McCordic (Medfield, Mass.) both scored four goals while first year Zach Bleil (New Cannan, Conn.) produced two goals and two assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Endicott opened the game with five straight goals. MIT got on the board with 1:28 left when Gebhardt connected on a feed from Bleil for a man-up strike.
 
- The Engineers outscored the Gulls, 6-3, in the second quarter to come within 8-7 at halftime. Gebhardt and McCordic both scored twice during the frame while junior Heath Nilsen (Carlsbad, Calif.) produced one goal and one assist.
 
- Endicott increased its margin 11 seconds into the third quarter, but MIT recorded three unanswered goals. A strike by first year Bryce Metalios (Riverside, Conn.) at the 11:27 mark was followed by a solo effort from Bleil almost six minutes later. Bleil then found Gebhardt for the go-ahead goal with 2:07 on the clock. The Gulls ended their scoring drought with back-to-back goals during the last 1:38 to take an 11-10 edge.
 
- Following a goal by Endicott with 12:37 on the clock, Nilsen found McCordic for a man-up strike at the 10:22 mark to cut the deficit in half (12-11). A defensive battle ensued until the Gulls scored back-to-back goals, the last with 4:18 left. The Engineers responded with blasts from McCordic and sophomore Dylan Nelson (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.) to come within one (14-13) with 3:14 remaining. After unsuccessful possessions by both squads, the Gulls recorded the final goal with 43 seconds left.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Nilsen posted one goal and two assists while sophomore Matthew Sardis (Bernardsville, N.J.) won 19-of-32 faceoffs and collected 12 groundballs. Metalios, junior Teague Rice (Suffern, N.Y.), and first year Braedon Rudolph (Denver, Colo.) each notched four groundballs as senior Devin McCabe (New Castle, N.H.) made 10 saves.
 
- This was the first meeting between both teams since 2007. MIT defeated the Gulls in the first matchup in 2002, but Endicott has now won the last six games against the Engineers.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT travels to UMass Boston on Wednesday, March 1 for a 4:00 p.m. game.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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