SELINSGROVE, PA - The Susquehanna men's lacrosse team overcame a three-goal, fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime against Saint Vincent tied at 11-11. In the second overtime,
Pat McDermott carried the ball from behind the goal to fake out the goalie and sink one in for a thrilling 12-11 win.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
- The game went back and forth all afternoon, featuring four lead changes in the first half. With Susquehanna ahead 4-3, Saint Vincent closed out the second quarter with three unanswered goals to lead 6-4 at the break.
- The River Hawks used the intermission to plan a rally, opening the third with three straight goals, one each from Jimmy Maro, Quin Michaels and Nick Remund, to gain a 7-6 lead with 5:07 to go in the period.
- The Bearcats made perhaps their strongest statement to counter, reeling off four consecutive scores. They tied the game at 7-7 to end the third, then opened the fourth with a three-goal assault to take ahold of the game up 10-7 with 7:34 remaining.
- The resilient River Hawks didn't go away as more Susquehanna players came to the front to score goals. The threesome of Matt Chubenko, Gabe Broome and Pat McDermott took their shots and they all landed to tie the game at 10-10 with 4:27 to go in the fourth.
- The closing moments offered more theatrics as SVC went ahead late as Calvin Rose got the go-ahead score that looked to give the Bearcats the momentum up 11-10 with 1:55 to go in regulation.
- Susquehanna had one more run in them as great defense offered the offense one more opportunity. Though the Bearcats won the ensuing faceoff, Frank Fianacca forced a turnover to give the River Hawks a realistic chance to tie the game with ample time remaining.
- The orange and maroon offered up two shots before hitting paydirt with their third as Gabe Broome tied the game with 40 seconds remaining, assisted by Drew Filipovits.
- While the River Hawks won the ensuing faceoff, they couldn't find the net in time as both teams returned to their benches to prepare for overtime.
- The first overtime came and went, with just one shot on goal coming from Chubenko that was saved.
- While Saint Vincent appeared to have a good chance entering the second overtime thanks to a Susquehanna penalty and having possession to start the frame, they turned the ball over right away.
- The River Hawks made their way down to their scoring end to plan a game-winning opportunity. That came courtesy of Pat McDermott. A balanced goal scorer and assist giver, McDermott received a feed from Maro from behind the net. He made his way around the goal to face Bearcats keeper Garrett Ritts one-on-one. The opportunity afforded him the ol' dip and dunk maneuver, faking a high shot before slipping one past the jumping Ritts to send Sassafras Field into a frenzy for the walk-off win with 2:40 showing on the clock.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- McDermott's game-winner made him the game's leading scorer with five points on three goals and two assists.
- Chubenko had three goals as well, while adding one assist for four points. Maro and Broome had two goals, while Remund and Michaels totaled one goal.
- Saturday's game was a shootout as Susquehanna held a slim edge in shots, 52-47, including 27-19 in shots on goal. The goalies matched this energy, with SVC's Ritts finishing with 15 saves and SU's Jack Storipan registering eight saves to go to 2-3 on the year.
- The River Hawks scored on one extra-man opportunity of their three chances. The Bearcats came out empty handed on their two opportunities.
- Brendan Gleason won all ten of Susquehanna's faceoff victories Saturday, while Saint Vincent earned 16 wins in the circle.
UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS
- Susquehanna looks to take its momentum into Landmark Conference season next Saturday, hosting Elizabethtown at 12 p.m. in a rematch of last year's Landmark Semifinals game.
