Sophomore Connor Delea (Manchester, N.H.) extended his torrid scoring streak with a fourth-straight game of five or more goals, but Plymouth State University was tripped up by New England College in a non-conference men's lacrosse game at Don Melander Field on Wednesday night. NEC took a 3-0 lead, but the Panthers cut the deficit to 3-2 in the final minute of the opening frame. The hosts tacked on a goal in the closing seconds for a 4-2 lead after one, then held PSU scoreless in the second quarter to extend the advantage to 8-2 at the half. Delea scored to open the second half and Plymouth trailed 11-5 heading into the final stanza. Delea added two more to open the fourth and bring PSU to within four, 11-7, but the Pilgrims closed out the game with back-to-back goals to secure the win. Plymouth State falls to 3-5 on the year, while NEC improves to 5-8. The Final Score: Plymouth State 7, NEC 13 Records: Plymouth State (3-5) NEC (5-8) How it Happened: * NEC jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the first half of the opening quarter. * Senior Paul Luongo (Northborough, Mass.) put the Panthers on the board with 1:55 left in the frame and Delea made it a one goal game with 16 seconds left, but NEC scored nine seconds later to take a 4-2 lead after one. * The hosts would hold PSU scoreless in the second quarter, upping their lead to 8-2. * Delea tallied his second of the night in the opening minute of the third quarter, but NEC answered with back-to-back goals. * Delea scored again with 2:15 left in the quarter to cut the deficit to 10-4. * The Pilgrims answered 30 seconds later, but senior Chris Waterbury (Clinton, Conn.) closed the quarter with his ninth of the year to make it an 11-5 game heading into the final 15 minutes. * Delea scored twice to start the fourth quarter and pull the Panthers to within 11-7, but that was as close as they would get as NEC closed the game with a pair of scores to account for the 13-7 final. Inside the Numbers: * Delea finished with five goals on eight shots and picked up four ground balls, continuing his torrid play. He has scored five or more goals in each of his last four games and leads the team with 25 goals and 30 points. * Waterbury had a fourth straight multi-point game, finishing with a goal and an assist. * Junior Chuck Harrington (Walpole, Mass.) led the Panthers with five ground balls, while senior Jake Burns (Salem, N.H.) added four. * Burns, sophomore Chase Mercier (Boscawen, N.H.) and senior Casey Elkins (Stow, Mass.) each recorded an assist. * Sophomore Robert Porter (Groveland, Mass.) made a career-high 18 saves but suffered his first career loss to fall to 2-1 on the year. Up Next: * Plymouth State hosts Salem State in a Little East Conference clash on Friday (Apr. 12) at the New Hampton School. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. * The Pilgrims welcome Becker College for an NECC game on Saturday (Apr. 13) at 3:00 p.m.