THE BASICS:
 
- Score: MIT 18, Clark University 9
 
- Records: MIT (2-3, 1-0 NEWMAC); Clark (3-5, 0-1 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Roberts Field at Steinbrenner Stadium)
 
- The Lead: A 10-0 run that spanned the second and third quarters created a comfortable cushion as MIT went on to defeat Clark University, 18-9, in NEWMAC men's lacrosse action on Saturday. Senior Heath Nilsen (Carlsbad, Calif.) powered the Engineers with three goals and two assists while Colin Howard had a hat trick for the Cougars.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- MIT built a 4-1 lead after the first 15 minutes of action as sophomore Zach Bleil (New Canaan, Conn.) produced a goal and an assist in the frame.
 
- Goals by Howard and Matt Wells brought Clark within 4-3 at the 8:28 mark of the second stanza. The Engineers replied with five unanswered goals to enter halftime with some breathing room. Nilsen was a factor in the first two goals as he connected on a pass from senior Jack McCordic (Medfield, Mass.) and then he set up junior Ethan Robertson (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) exactly 41 seconds later. Sophomore Garrett Campagna (Lancaster, Pa.) earned assists for MIT's next three goals as the first two were scored by junior Nick Stiles (New Canaan, Conn.) and the last by senior Joe Lupo (Bedford, N.H.).
 
- Five different players found the back of the net, helping increase the Engineers' advantage to 14-3 with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter. Just over two minutes later, the Cougars ended their scoring drought when Howard redirected a feed from Harry Gorman. MIT countered with a goal by McCordic, resulting in a 15-4 lead at the end of the quarter.
 
- McCordic and sophomore CJ Sanchez (New Rochelle, N.Y.) produced early goals for the hosts, but Clark rattled off five straight goals, trimming the deficit to 17-9. Five players contributed to the scoring burst, which included man-up tallies by Howard and Attilio LaVecchia. The Engineers' final goal was scored by first-year Denley Kofoed (Centennial, Colo.) who was set up by first-year Ryan Quinn (Baldwinsville, N.Y.).
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- McCordic finished with three goals, one assist, and three groundballs while Campagna posted one goal and three assists. Stiles registered a hat trick as Bleil notched one goal and two assists. Junior Brennan Hoppa (Hampstead, N.H.) recorded three groundballs and two caused turnovers while graduate student Andrew Palleiko (Hopkinton, Mass.) won 15 of his 27 faceoff attempts and collected 11 groundballs.
 
- In net, graduate student David Vapnek (San Diego, Calif.) made eight saves in 45 minutes as sophomore Collin Lung (Lynbrook, N.Y.) closed out the game with four saves.
 
- Wells and Patrick Liddy both contributed one goal and one assist while Matthew Minkwitz totaled two assists and four groundballs for the Cougars. Huy Doan went 14-of-27 in faceoffs and gathered five groundballs as Jason Tautel bolstered the defense with five groundballs.
 
- In net, Dylan Harloff made five saves in the first quarter. Casey McCullough played the final 45 minutes and amassed 20 saves.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT returns to action on Tuesday, March 19 when it hosts No. 6 Bowdoin College at 7:00 p.m. Clark, meanwhile, continues NEWMAC play on Saturday, March 23 at Salve Regina University at 3:30 p.m.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
- For the latest on MIT Athletics, follow the Engineers via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.