RINDGE, N.H. (April 30, 2003) - The Franklin Pierce men's lacrosse team dropped a 24-13 decision to Green Mountain College in non-conference men's lacrosse action at the Franklin Pierce Field Hockey/Lacrosse field this afternoon.

Green Mountain was led by junior Nathan Krida who totaled seven goals and five assists for a match-high 12 points. Senior Matt Wiehl followed with six goals and four assists in the win. Seniors Scott Lockwood and Jason Jonza also netted hat tricks to help the cause.

Junior Derek Mandatori (Newton, Mass./Newton North) registered his best performance of the season with four goals and three assists to lead Franklin Pierce. Classmate Dean Patty (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) also posted his best game of the season with two goals and three assists for five points. Junior Jimmy Ward (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Classical) registered his first hat trick of the season, while senior Brendon Dillon (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) totaled two goals and an assist.

In an exciting first quarter, both teams came out firing. The Ravens got on the board just four minutes into the match, as Mandatori spun past two Green Mountain defenders to record his first tally of the afternoon.

The Eagles responded two minutes later when Wiehl converted on a pass from Krida to even the score. Franklin Pierce regained the lead when Mandatori spun and dished a perfect pass to Patty who blasted a shot past Green Mountain netminder, Michael O'Hara.

The Ravens didn't keep the lead for long, as Krida netted back-to-back markers in a 20 second span to give Green Mountain its first lead of the match.

The Ravens managed to knot the score 3-3 just before the end of the quarter when Patty chased down a loose ball and connected with Dillon at the 12:45 mark.

The Eagles began to pull away from the Ravens just a minute into the second quarter, scoring eight consecutive goals to take a 12-4 lead heading into the break.

Franklin Pierce posted a goal midway through the second stanza when sophomore Nick Mincolla (Cohasset, Mass./Gov. Drummer Academy) beat a crowd of defenders for a pretty goal at the 13:22 mark, but it wouldn't be enough, as the Eagles tacked on five goals in the third and seven in the fourth quarter to make the final, Green Mountain 24, Franklin Pierce 13.

Senior Andy Cote (Middleton, Mass./Masconomet) made 17 saves in 60 minutes in net. O'Hara totaled 15 saves in 60 minutes in net to preserve the Green Mountain win.

Green Mountain 24, Franklin Pierce 13 

GOALS:
FP - Derek Mandatori (4), Jimmy Ward (3), Dean Patty (2), Brandon Dillon (2), Nick Mincolla (1), Kevin Medeiros (1), Andrew McEntee (1).
GMC - Nathan Krida (7), Matt Wiehl (6), Scott Lockwood (3), Jason Jonza (2), Dax Nitishin, Pieter Grover.

ASSISTS:
FP -Mandatori (3), Patty (3), Dillon, Frank Parker.
GMC - Krida (5), Wiehl (4), Jonza (2), Lockwood, Nitishin, Rory Starks.

SAVES:
FP - Andy Cote (60:00) 17 saves
GMC - Michael O'Hara (60:00) 15 saves