Box Score Waterville, ME - Men's Lacrosse hosted Vermont State University-Castleton in a non-conference match-up at Colby College on Saturday, February 28, defeating the Spartans in a thrilling back-and-forth battle by a final score of 16–13. Jack Morrill, Nicholas Pike, and Wyatt Lyons paced the Terriers' offense, each recording a hat trick in the win over the Spartans.


How it Happened:

• Morrill jump started the Terriers' attack early in the first quarter, scoring twice less than a minute apart to give Thomas a quick 2–0 lead.
• The Spartans found a response in the following minutes, scoring three unanswered goals to claim a 2-3 lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the 1st quarter.
• But the Terriers answered right back, scoring two goals of their own in just under 2 minutes courtesy of Owen Lyons and Tyler Lydon to reclaim a 4–3 lead midway through the 1st.
• Pike extended the Terriers' lead in the following minutes with a man-down goal, finishing off a perfectly placed full-field pass from Dustyn Hinkley to make it a 5-3 game.
• The Spartans were able to find the back of the net twice late in the first, however, Morrill answered with his third goal of the night in the final minute of the quarter, sending the Terriers into the second with a 6–5 advantage.
• Wyatt Lyons kept the momentum rolling for the Terriers in the opening minute of the 2nd quarter, scoring his first goal of the game off a Connor Hamilton assist to make it a 7-5 game.
• Back-to-back goals from the Spartans knotted the game up at 7-7 just minutes later.
• A second goal from Pike off an O. Lyons assist gave the Terriers a 1 goal lead midway through the 2nd quarter, but a late goal from the Spartans sent both teams into the half tied at 8-8.
• The Spartans reclaimed the momentum early in the 3rd, scoring two minutes into the quarter, but a goal from Hinkley shortly afterward tied the game up once again.
• Another Castleton goal put the Terriers down 9-10 midway through the 3rd quarter.
• But the Terriers flipped the momentum of the game late in the 3rd, scoring four unanswered goals from W. Lyons (assisted by Hunter Simpson), Pike, O. Lyons (assisted by Morrill), and Hamilton (assisted by Jesse Sag) to take a 13-10 lead heading into the 4th quarter.
• Lydon extended the Terriers lead to 14-10 in the opening minutes of the 4th quarter with his second goal of the night.
• Wyatt Lyons added his 3rd goal of the game in the following minutes, but 2 goals from the Spartans midway through the 4th cut the Terriers lead to just 3 goals with just under 5 minutes to play.
• However, a clutch goal from Hunter Simpson helped extend the Terriers lead back to four goals with three minutes remaining in regulation.
• Despite a late goal in the final seconds of the 4th from Castleton, the Terriers ultimately held on to secure a hard fought 16-13 win over the Spartans.
• Terriers goalkeeper Mike Picard earned his first collegiate win in his second career start, finishing the contest with 6 saves over the Spartans.

Inside the Stats:

• Jack Morrill - 3 Goals, 1 Assist, 16 Ground Balls, 3 Caused Turnovers, 19-24 FO
• Nicholas Pike - 3 Goals, 3 Ground Balls, 
• Wyatt Lyons - 3 Goals, 
• Owen Lyons - 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 7 Ground Balls, 2 Caused Turnovers

What's Next:

• Men's Lacrosse will return to action on Wednesday, March 4th, hosting the Salem State University Vikings in a non-conference contest. Opening face-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM at Smith Field.