BETHLEHEM, PA - The Susquehanna University men's lacrosse team jumped out to a 9-4 lead at Moravian in their Landmark Opening Round game on Saturday. But before they could look ahead to a possible Scranton matchup next week, the Greyhounds staged a furious second-half rally, even jumping out to an 11-10 fourth quarter lead. Susquehannn remained composed and turned the tide, relying on their regular scorers to bring them back.
Pat McDermott's late score with 1:31 remaining gave the River Hawks a 13-12 win, sending them off to Scranton for another matchup with the Royals Wednesday at 4 p.m.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
- Reese Ackerman helped get the team's first two goals, the first was on his own, then fed Pat McDermott to make it 2-0 with 11:06 to play in the quarter.
- Moravian got its first goal from Christian Hantson on a man-up chance, only for Drew Filipovits and Matt Chubenko to add two scores to go up 4-1.
- While the Greyhounds made up the last goal of the first quarter, the River Hawks opened with three straight scores in the second from Nick Remund, McDermott and Maro to lead 7-2.
- Each side exchanged goals the rest of the way as SU led 9-4 at the half. Faceoff man Brandon Cash and Gabe Broome each added a goal in this stretch.
- Chubenko's second goal of the day in the third was no match for Moravian mounting a furious third-quarter rally to make it a ballgame, outscoring the River Hawks 5-1 in the period to make it 10-9 after three. Two of their goals came on extra-man opportunities, both accounting for the last goals of the quarter.
- The Greyhounds then moved in with two goals to start the fourth for their first lead of the day at 11-10 with 9:37 to go.
- The ensuing faceoff was crucial for Susquehanna to keep the game within reach. Cash won his chance as he finished 18-of-27 on the day, which set up Filipovits scoring from a Maro assist to tie it up.
- Cash again won the next faceoff, with Maro quickly scoring on an Ackerman assist to lead 12-11 with 8:09 remaining.
- Moravian was not done yet as with three minutes to go Finn McGovern was set up by Robert Celona to tie it up at 12-12.
- The Greyhounds won the ensuing faceoff, though they turned it over. With new life, the River Hawks turned to McDermott to score the game-winner, doing so off a pass from Matt Chubenko to go ahead 13-12 with 1:31 to go.
- Once again, Cash was just that, winning the faceoff battle and allowing Susquehanna to drain time off the clock. A last minute sprint by Moravian saw them throw a prayer to the net, only to be thwarted by goalie Will Harcourt, who earned the win after tallying 11 saves.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Fellow faceoff man Brendan Gleason won his lone faceoff battle to give SU a 19-of-28 advantage at midfield.
- Ackerman finished as the game's leading scorer with five points on one goal and four assists.
- McDermott's game-winner marked a hat trick for the junior to lead the game in goals. Maro, Chubenko, and Filipovits each had two goals.
- In a slim margin in shots, Susquehanna led 44-38 and 27-23 in shots on goal.
- Moravian's goalie Liam Kelly performed exceptionally well with 14 saves against 13 goals allowed to keep the game close.
- The Greyhounds seized on 4-of-6 extra man opportunities, while the River Hawks were 0-for-2.
