Bradshaw Completes Comeback for Garnet
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Freshman attack Tyler Bradshaw's first collegiate goal concluded another exciting chapter in the Swarthmore/Goucher men's lacrosse rivalry, lifting the hometown Garnet to a 5-4 season-opening comeback win in double overtime at blustery Clothier Field Saturday afternoon.
Swarthmore's game-winner started in its own defensive end when sophomore Jacob Metzger knocked the ball free from the stick of Goucher's Brian Hoge. Garnet midfielder Todd Friedman '09, seemingly in the middle of every big hit on Saturday, picked up the loose ball with 33 second left in the second overtime and streaked into the Swarthmore offensive zone. Friedman appeared determined to reach the goal and three Gopher defenders step up to stop his momentum, leaving Bradshaw open on the far post. Friedman dumped the ball to Bradshaw who one-timed the ball over the shoulder of Goucher goalie Austin Main, setting off a large celebration by the Garnet faithful.
It is the third time the Gophers (0-2) and Swarthmore (1-0) have gone to extra time in the past five seasons. Current Garnet captain Jay Charles netted a game-winner in Towson, Md. in 2006 to propel Swarthmore to an 8-7 victory in the third overtime in the most recent affair.
The Garnet were in a hole early as Goucher took a 2-0 lead after the first period. Ross Nochumowitz scored the Gophers' first goal off a feed from Dam Flamholz at 14:12 and Dave Duff put up an unassisted score with 12 seconds remaining.
Garnet junior attack Chris Harman put the home team on the board at 11:33 in the second period, finishing off a pass from sophomore Will Predun. The Gophers assumed a 3-1 lead at the intermission when Flamholz scored his first goal of the season at 2:38. The visitors extended the lead out to three goals when Alan Tiet put home his second goal after receiving an offering from Sam Fitzpatrick at 4:20 in the third period.
Swarthmore began its comeback at the end of the third period as Bradshaw lofted a pass to sophomore Stelios Wilson in front of the Gophers' cage. Wilson out-leaped a Goucher defender and slam-dunked the ball into the net with four seconds remaining in the period.
The Garnet energy continued to build in the fourth period; senior Ryan McKenna scored right out of a Swarthmore time-out off an assist from Ben Young '09 at 11:20 and classmate Gavin Nurick tied the game at 4-4 with his first goal of the season at 1:31.
The two teams traded great scoring chances at the start of the first overtime, but Main and Swarthmore netminder Frank Mazzucco '08 made a pair of saves to preserve the tie. Mazzucco finished the afternoon with 14 saves while Main tallied 11 stops for the Gophers.
Goucher dominated the face-offs as Jerod Richardson won 10 of 13 for the Gophers. Goucher also led in the shot category 38-34 while the Garnet picked up 24 ground balls to Goucher's 21.
Swarthmore continues its non-conference slate on Wednesday, March 7 with a 7:00 p.m. game at Drew University. The Garnet return home on Saturday, March 10 for a 1:00 p.m. contest with the College of Wooster.