THE BASICS:
 
- Score: Endicott College 18, MIT 17
 
- Records: MIT (1-2); Endicott (3-1)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Roberts Field at Steinbrenner Stadium)
 
- The Lead: Despite two late goals by MIT, Endicott College held on for an 18-17 victory in non-conference men's lacrosse action on Wednesday afternoon. Senior Heath Nilsen (Carlsbad, Calif.) paced the Engineers with three goals and four assists while Guerin Favreau amassed four goals and six assists for the Gulls.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- In a back-and-forth first quarter, a goal by sophomore Garrett Campagna (Lancaster, Pa.) that was set up by Nilsen tied the game at five with one minute remaining.
 
- Endicott opened the second stanza with seven unanswered goals, including three by Colt Green, to build a 12-5 advantage with 2:32 left in the frame. Nilsen ended MIT's scoring drought when he connected on a pass by sophomore Zach Bleil (New Canaan, Conn.) with 11 seconds on the clock.
 
- The Engineers carried the momentum into the third quarter as goals by junior Brennan Hoppa (Hampstead, N.H.) and Nilsen narrowed the gap to 12-8 at the 11:29 mark. However, the Gulls countered with three straight goals, two by Favreau, during the next two minutes. MIT chipped away at the deficit as four consecutive goals brought it within 15-12 at the end of the period. Junior Nick Stiles (New Canaan, Conn.) scored twice during the burst.
 
- Stiles completed the hat trick exactly 51 seconds into the fourth quarter but Favreau found Tommy Tyksinski to create a 16-13 edge with 13:11 on the clock. The Engineers quickly replied with another Campagna goal and a man-up strike by Bleil. Endicott created some breathing room courtesy of Favreau's solo effort at the 9:16 mark and then he set up Tyksinski for what proved to be the game-winning with just under five minutes remaining.
 
- Nilsen was a factor in MIT's next two goals as he earned an assist on a blast by Bleil and then he scored on a pass by Campagna, bringing the hosts within one (18-17) with 1:09 left to play. Playing with a man down, the Gulls won the ensuing faceoff but turned the ball over with 33 seconds remaining. Following a timeout by the Engineers, senior Jack McCordic (Medfield, Mass.) put a shot on net, but it was blocked. Matt Cawley then forced a turnover and collected the groundball to secure the victory.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Campagna finished with two goals and four assists while Bleil posted four goals and two assists. Stiles totaled three goals and one assist as graduate student Andrew Palleiko (Hopkinton, Mass.) notched two goals and seven groundballs. Senior Luke Chapman (Houston, Texas) registered three groundballs and three caused turnovers while Hoppa added three groundballs. In net, graduate student David Vapnek (San Diego, Calif.) collected 12 saves.
 
- Tyksinski generated five goals while Nick Graap and Green both had hat tricks. Thomas Barker won 29 of his 38 faceoff attempts and amassed 19 groundballs as Cawley registered three groundballs and two caused turnovers. Tim Luciano ended the night with 16 saves, three groundballs, and two caused turnovers.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, March 9. MIT will travel to No. 8 RPI for a 1:00 p.m. game while Endicott will host Springfield College at 12:00 p.m.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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