The Mount Ida College Men's Lacrosse team out-scored Nichols College 9-4 in the second half as the Mustangs came away with a 15-9 victory in non-conference action at Vendetti Field on Thursday. Senior John Lightbown (Melrose, MA/Melrose) led the Mustangs, now 4-3 on the year and 2-0 in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), with five goals on the night.

Lightbown scored two goals in a two minute and 13 second span midway through the first quarter before Nichols posted three straight goals to take a 3-2 with 3:38 left to play. Lightbown struck for his third goal of the game with 2:51 left while freshman Dan Harrington (Westford, MA/Westford Acd.) gave Mount Ida a 4-3 lead heading into the second with a man-up goal.

Nichols scored the first two goals of the second quarter right before the Mustangs answered back with two of their own. Lightbown's fourth goal and junior Brett Conley's (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Warde) first helped give Mount Ida a 6-5 lead at the half.

The Bison defense struggled in the second half as the Mustangs scored six straight goals to take a 12-7 lead at the end of three. Nichols was out-shot 13-5 in both quarters as Mount Ida tacked on three more goals in the fourth for a 15-9 final. Conley scored two goals in the second half to end the game with three. Junior Leo Shidler (Peabody, MA/Peabody) also added two to go along with a game-high four assists. Harrington chipped in with two goals and two assists for the Mustangs as well.

Mount Ida goaltender Matt Vernik (Bethany, CT/Amity Regional) came away from the contest with eight saves.

The Mustangs will host North Atlantic Conference (NAC) rival Castleton State College this Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m.

2008-03-28