Nasty Nurick Wins It For Garnet
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Swarthmore senior midifielder Gavin Nurick scored the game-winner with 15 seconds left in regulation as the Garnet Garnet won their Centennial opener for the first time in school history, defeating visiting Ursinus 6-5 Wednesday night at Clothier Field.
Until Wednesday evening, Swarthmore (2-1 overall, 1-0 CC) had not won a conference opener since 1993 when the Garnet defeated Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opponent Drew University 13-7 on March 27. Swarthmore joined the Centennial Conference in the fall of 1993, with lacrosse play beginning in the spring of 1994. It was also the fifth time in six match-ups that Swarthmore downed the Bears (Ursinus won 13-3 in Collegeville, Pa. in 2006).
Swarthmore junior goalie Frank Mazzucco stopped the Bears' midfielder Mike Tori on a shot from the left wing at 1:28 in the fourth period and the Garnet cleared the ball into the offensive zone. Swarthmore called a timeout with a minute showing on the clock, looking to set up a final chance.
Garnet senior midfielder Jay Charles tried a shot from the far right wing, yet was denied by Bears' netminder Matt Orlando. Garnet midfielder Ryan McKenna picked up the loose ball and shoveled it to sophomore Kyle Wilson behind the net. Wilson took a run at the goal but Matt Orlando was in position to shut the door.
The ball ended up behind the Ursinus' net and Swarthmore junior Chris Harman quickly sent the ball to the left side of the cage where Nurick caught and fired the winning score home.
The Bears' Jason Orlando won the ensuing face-off but the Swarthmore defense kept Ursinus from getting a shot off in the final seconds.
Both teams were over a week removed from their previous game action and it showed in the early going as the teams combined to turn the ball over 10 times in the first four and a half minutes. Swarthmore got on the board first after freshman attack Tyler Bradshaw intercepted a pass at midfield, headed straight for the goal, and fed Wilson who shot it over Matt Orlando's left shoulder with 10:32 to play.
The Bears (3-2 overall, 0-1 CC) evened things up when senior attack Anthony Tori found a cutting Dan Mangin for a score with 3:59 left in the first period.
The second period saw the most action of the evening. Bradshaw scored his second goal of the night at the onset of the second period, coming from behind the cage to beat Matt Orlando at 14:21. The Bears got scores from Mangin and freshman Eric Farris to build a 3-2 lead at 11:51. The Garnet re-gained the lead on unassisted scores by Wilson (team-leading third of the season) and sophomore midfielder Ben Young. Young gave Swarthmore a 4-3 lead at the intermission by turning on the jets just inside the offensive zone to get off a rocket to the short side of the Bears' net.
Mike Tori tied the game at the start of the third period, tallying his third goal of the season at 14:34. Swarthmore quickly assumed the lead again as sophomore Will Predun found freshman Gavin Musynske for a deep goal at 13:10.
The Bears looked to send the affair to extra time when senior Mike Stein notched his eighth score of the season, an unassisted goal, with 4:50 remaining.
The two teams combined for 59 turnovers with the Bears holding a 27-25 edge in ground balls. Swarthmore easily out-shot Ursinus 32-19, including a 10-5 edge in the final period.
Mazzucco and Matt Orlando each made 11 saves between the pipes.
Swarthmore travels to Dickinson College this Saturday, March 24 for a 1:00 p.m. Centennial Conference game.