HENNIKER, N.H. – The Plattsburgh State men's lacrosse team entered Wednesday with a 4-1 all-time record against New England College and looked to make it back-to-back wins over the Pilgrims. Led by junior attacker Peter Urso (Bay Shore, N.Y. / Bay Shore), the Cardinals did just that, earning a 20-10 non-conference victory at Don Melander Field. Urso finished with a career- and game-high nine points on a career-best seven goals and two assists while adding three ground balls.

Junior attacker Jamie Gipe (Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker) also turned in a strong performance, finishing with five points on three goals and two assists. Senior midfielder Tim Keenan (Poughquag, N.Y. / Arlington) added two goals, while first-year Matthew Swift (New Rochelle, N.Y. / New Rochelle) scored his first collegiate goal. At the faceoff X, sophomore Aiden Deegan (New London, N.H. / Kearsarge Regional) led Plattsburgh with six wins, while defensively, senior Kevin Murray (Bellmore, N.Y. / Kellenberg Memorial) caused five turnovers and picked up three ground balls. Junior goalie Cole Orehosky (Hauppauge, N.Y. / Hauppauge) made four saves in the win, while Jack Mulcahy (Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Arlington) and Gavin McQueeney (Wading River, N.Y. / Shoreham-Wading River) also saw time in net for the Cardinals.

For the Pilgrims, Brody McGonigle led the way with five points on four goals and an assist, followed by Matt O'Rourke with four points on a goal and three assists. Evan Zonderman won a game-high 19 faceoffs, and Nate Finn made a game-high 16 saves in the loss for New England College.

While Plattsburgh dominated in shots, 51-25, New England College held slight advantages in ground balls, 41-39, and faceoffs, 21-10. The Cardinals were more efficient on clears, going 20-for-23 compared to the Pilgrims' 15-for-20. Plattsburgh also capitalized on man-up opportunities, scoring four times in six chances, while New England College converted two of nine.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with Plattsburgh holding a narrow 5-4 lead at the end of the period. Urso opened the scoring for the Cardinals at 13:44, finishing off a pass from Francey, who found him at the doorstep. Brayden Shattuck (Queensbury, N.Y. / Queensbury) followed with a long-range shot to give Plattsburgh a 2-0 lead with 11:47 remaining. New England College responded with two consecutive goals, and the teams traded scores until a man-up goal from Gipe gave the Cardinals a 5-4 edge with 2:29 left, which held heading into the second quarter.

New England College wasted little time getting on the board in the second quarter, scoring just 16 seconds in. Plattsburgh quickly responded, though, using a six-goal run to regain control, capped by a goal from Urso with three seconds remaining to take an 11-5 lead into halftime.

Despite the Pilgrims striking first out of the break, the third quarter followed a similar script to the second. After the opening goal, Plattsburgh's offense caught fire, scoring seven straight, led by Urso with four, to build a commanding 18-6 lead with 3:56 to go. New England College added a late goal to end the run, but Plattsburgh still carried a strong 18-7 advantage into the final quarter.

Plattsburgh's offense slowed in the fourth quarter, scoring just two goals, their lowest of the game, with Swift and James Henningsen (North Bellmore, N.Y. / Mepham) adding late scores. New England College managed three goals, including the final tally of the game, but Plattsburgh had built a comfortable lead and went on to secure a 20-10 victory.

With the win, Plattsburgh State rises to 5-2, marking the program's best start since 2013. The Cardinals return to action next Saturday, hosting New Paltz for a 3 p.m. faceoff in their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opener.