North Reading's Ponte One Win From Playing For Lacrosse Title At Gillette

Nick Ponte is proving again he knows how to be in the right place at the right time.

After a decorated career at North Reading High School that included three Cape Ann League All-Star selections, Ponte is a freshman member of the Merrimack College lacrosse team. Merrimack beat Le Moyne in Saturday's NCAA quarterfinals, 10-5, putting the Warriors one win from the title game, played not far from their North Andover home.

Back in the NCAA Tournament semifinals for the third straight season, the Warriors (14-3) will travel to Motamed Field in Garden City, New York, to face Adelphi (15-3) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the NCAA Division 2 semifinals. Tampa plays Limestone in the other semifinal Sunday in South Carolina. Should Merrimack win, the final is May 28 at Gillette Stadium, the fourth time the finals have been held in Foxborough.

Merrimack played Adelphi on April 1 in a regular season matchup and lost 12-9.

Ponte has been a back-up this spring, seeing action in seven games, and starting one. He has a 6.68 goals against average. A criminology major, Ponte was a four-year letter winner for the Hornets and was twice named a CAL first team All-Star. He also lettered in hockey and was named a CAL All-League performer in that sport as well.