Box Score
SALEM, Mass. – Newcomers and second-year players have played a significant role for the Eastern Connecticut State University men's lacrosse team this year. Never more so than in Saturday's Little East Conference match with Salem State University, and never more so than in the fourth quarter.
 
In Eastern's (4-6, 1-1 LEC) 14-6 victory over Salem (4-5, 0-2 LEC), first and second-year players accounted for 11 goals  in the game, with five of the goals coming in a big fourth quarter that allowed the Warriors to expand a three-goal margin to the final eight-goal differential.
 
As it has throughout the year, Eastern's ability to win the battle at the faceoff X has usually produced dividends, and Saturday was no exception. Junior Rick O'Neal (East Hartford) won 14 of 22 (64 percent) and first-year player Nathan Tranquilli (North Branford) won his first faceoff of the year in his only attempt Saturday.
 
First-year goalie Gregory Hilinski (Shelton) made double-digit saves for the sixth straight game – equalling his third-highest total of the year, with 15. Five of his saves came in the second quarter when he allowed only one to get past and as Eastern entered the locker room with a slim 5-4 lead.
 
Playing their eighth road game in ten outings, the Warriors got six goals from sophomore Mike Stevenson (Shelton) and two each from first-year players Connor Chirico (Milford) and Tanner Drobish (Wallingford) to power the Warriors to their 21^st straight victory without a loss in the series. Senior Zachary Appolon (Stamford) and junior Brycen Kennedy (Southington) combined for five assists.
 
First-year player Sean Filley (Guilford) helped Eastern nearly double Salem's ground ball total, with seven, with Chirico and O'Neal each collecting five. First-year defenseman Erik Suzio (Meriden) caused three of Salem's 17 turnovers and Drobish caused two.
 
It marks the first time since two season-opening wins that the Warriors have limited their opponent to single-digit goals.
 
Eastern hosts Plymouth State University (6-4, 1-1 LEC) Friday at 3 p.m. in a conference match at Rick McCarthy Field. The Panthers, who eliminated the Warriors in the first round of last year's LEC tournament, 18-3, at Panther Field, are coming off Saturday's 11-9 loss at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Three of Plymouth's wins this year have come by a single goal.