CASTINE, Maine - Johnson State trailed 2-1 after one period but saw host Maine Maritime Academy scored seven unanswered goals in the second period as the Mariners topped Johnson 16-4 in North Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse play on Friday night. JSC is now 1-5 overall, 0-3 NAC.
Johnson received all four of their goals from seniors as Alex Petti (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) scored a pair and Justin Connolly (Jeffersonville, Vt./Lamoille) (pictured) and Justin Nelson (Lakeville, Mass./Bishop Connolly) each scored a singe goal. Nelson also added an assist.
Badger goalkeeper Zach Jerome (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) made 16 saves in the game while his counterpart Gavin Cote and Oscar Adams combined to make eight saves in the win.
MMA's Brian Corain had a five goals and an assist while Nicholas Betti and Bronson Guimond each scored three goals apeice. Andrew DiSalvo had two goals and two assists to surpass the 200 career-point plateau as well in the win. Nick Snelling and Brady Harrison each had single goals.
Betti struck for two of his scores in the first three minutes of the match to put MMA in lead 2-0 before Justin Connolly cut the lead in half with 11:40 remaining in the period. That is where the score would remain through the first stanza setting up the Mariner run the second period.
Corain would come through with three of his five goals in the decisive period and DiSalvo would notch both of his scores during the period.
Petti's first score in the third period would cut the lead to 9-2 but that would be as close as the Badgers would get and the Mariners won going away.
Johnson will now face Husson University on Saturday morning in a quick turnaround at 9:00 am while Maine Maritime will have a showdown with Lyndon State also on Saturday.