Big Green Knock Off Merrimack Warriors to Start Campaign

Saturday, February 15

North Andover, Mass.

1:00 PM

Dartmouth College

1-0, 0-0IVY

Merrimack

0-2, 0-0NEC

Dartmouth

Merrimack

Junior George Prince

Photo by: Belle Smart

Big Green Knock Off Merrimack Warriors to Start Campaign

2/15/2020 3:13:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Charlotte Brackett

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Dartmouth men's lacrosse opened the 2020 season with a win, defeating two-time Division II national champion Merrimack, 13-11, in the Warriors' second game as a DI program.

George Prince led the way with a career-high nine points (6G, 3A), while Tommy Rogan was second with six (4G, 2A), proving important in his first collegiate game by scoring all three of the Big Green's goals in the fourth quarter. In net, Daniel Hincks made 14 saves to pick up the victory.

"I am proud of our men today," head coach Brendan Callahan said. "It wasn't a clean game but we did enough to get the W. To go on the road and beat a very good Merrimack team took a lot of grit. I thought we were sloppy at times and have to take care of the ball better, and that's where we will focus this week: on our situational lacrosse. The difference today was a big second-quarter run, then being able to keep answering Merrimack's surges. We battled hard at the X, which helped keep possessions about even.

"It was great to see George and Tommy going on attack today," Callahan continued. "They did a great job finishing the ball. The defense got a few big stops down the stretch to seal the game. I thought Peter Rizzotti led the the defense, with Daniel standing tall in the net against some really good shooters. We will enjoy this one today and start getting ready for Bryant."

Tied at 1-1 early on in the first, Merrimack (0-2) scored twice in a row to move ahead. With time winding down and with Dartmouth (1-0) trailing by two, Ben Martin and Prince scored 44 seconds apart to make it a 3-3 game. It looked as if the teams would end the quarter tied, but the Warriors netted one more with three seconds to go to take a one-goal lead into the second.

The home team held on to that edge until goals by Matt Paul and a man-up tally by Martin gave Dartmouth its first advantage of the game (5-4). Over the next five minutes, the Green went on a 4-1 run, heading into the third ahead by a score of 8-6.

Dartmouth remained two ahead until Merrimack got one back two minutes into the third. Prince and Rogan gave the Big Green their first three-goal advantage of the game (10-7), but the Warriors cut into that lead with two straight markers to get back within one late in the quarter.

The teams traded goals at the start of the fourth: Rogan scored both of Dartmouth's tallies, while Merrimack never waited too long to counter, always staying within striking distance (12-11). Rogan's third of the quarter put the Big Green back up by two with four minutes to go, and that lead would hold until the final whistle.

The Warriors had a 25-22 shot advantage. Merrimack was perfect with the extra man, while Dartmouth went 1-for-3.

The Big Green will play its home opener on Saturday, taking on Bryant at 12 p.m.