Newton Centre, MA– In a re-match of the 2009 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) title game, the hosting Mount Ida College men's lacrosse program downed visiting conference rival Castleton State College 10-8 Saturday afternoon on "Support your Troops" day presented by the Mount Ida Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.).  The Mustangs get back on track after falling to visiting Eastern Connecticut State University this past week improving to 3-4 and remain perfect in the NAC at 2-0.  The Spartans drop their first conference loss of the season falling to 1-1 in the NAC, 3-4 overall. 

Castleton came out strong striking first on a man-up goal by senior Michael Martinez (Barrington, IL/Barrington) from sophomore Samuel Bailey (Hartford, VT/WNEC) leading 1-0 in the opening minutes of the first quarter.

Mount Ida came storming back and converted the next three goals of the contest taking a commanding 3-1 lead on scores from junior's Matthew Savage (Peabody, MA/Peabody), Dan Harrington (Westford, MA/Westford Academy), and freshman Nick Yacuzzi (Oakham, MA/St. John's) with 11:45 to go in the second frame.

The Spartans struck next on another man-up score from Martinez feed by senior Korey Counos (St. Albans, VT/Bellows Free Academy) cutting the Mustang lead to 3-2.

Mount Ida answered on another Savage score dished from senior Christopher Prophete (Waltham, MA/Waltham) jumping ahead by two up 4-2 and the end of the second quarter.

To begin the second half the visitors tied the score for the first time since the opening quarter on two consecutive goals from Counos and junior Craig MacDerment (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) knotting the game (4-4) at the 12:41 mark in the third quarter.

Savage answered again for the Mustangs on his third score of the contest regaining the advantage up 5-4 on an unassisted goal with 11:21 to go in the third stanza.

Castleton didn't back down scoring the next two goals on scores from Counos and freshman Nohea King (Pembroke, NH/Pembroke Academy) gaining their first lead of the day up 6-5 with 4:46 showing in the third.

Just when it looked like the visitors were taking the momentum, the Mustangs slammed the door scoring the next five goals starting at the 4:02 mark in the third frame and ending at the 8:35 mark in the fourth.  Harrington netted two crucial goals during the five goals stretch and was joined by scores from junior Paul Battapaglia (Clinton, CT/Morgan), and sophomore's Derek O'Reilly (East Setuaket, NY/Ward Melville) and Sean Slattery (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington) up 11-6.

The Spartans attempted a valiant comeback notching two scores, both from Martinez fed by Bailey, cutting the Mustang advantage to a deuce with 5:25 to go in the game.  It wasn't enough with the hosts closing the door and capturing the 10-8 victory.

The Mustangs dominated in their offensive side leading 43-32 in shooting and winning the groundball battle 39-31. 

Mount Ida netminder Jimmy McAllister (Smithfield, RI/LaSalle Academy) was outstanding in goal denying 11 Spartan shots.  Castleton State sophomore goaltender David DeGhetto (Clifton, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) notched 14 saves.

Courtesy of: Mt. Ida Sports Information