Resilient Garnet Fall in Overtime
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- McDaniel's Brad Baer scored the game-winning goal with 1:59 to go in the overtime period to lift the visiting Terror to a 7-6 win over Swarthmore in Centennial Conference men's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at Clothier Field.
Swarthmore (4-4, 2-3 CC) controlled play for a large part of the game, and went into the fourth quarter up two goals before McDaniel (6-3, 1-2 CC) came on strong, scoring three goals in the period to reclaim the lead at 6-5.
The last minute of the game was a crazy one, with sticks and bodies flying as Swarthmore desperately tried to get the ball back from the McDaniel attack. Garnet goalkeeper Frank Mazzucco '08 stuffed a Terror shot with an impressive save in the last minute to keep the Garnet within striking distance.
Swarthmore's Ben Young '09 was called for a pushing penalty with 0:23 remaining in the game and the Garnet were a man down before McDaniel was called for a delay of game, a penalty which not only evened the sides but gave the Garnet the ball back.
Swarthmore took advantage of this final possession, as midfielder Ryan McKenna '07 found attack Stelios Wilson '09 and Wilson put the ball away to send the game into overtime. Although Swarthmore's Adam Miller '08 won the face-off to start overtime, McDaniel got the ball back and was able to convert to hand the Garnet a heartbreaking loss.
McKenna led the Garnet offense with three points on two assists and a goal. Sophomore attack Kyle Wilson scored his team-leading thirteenth goal of the season, and also registered an assist. Todd Freidman '09, Will Predun '09, and Gavin Musynske '10 also had goals for Swarthmore.
Mazzucco continued to impress in net, and recorded fourteen saves in the losing effort. He also picked up five ground balls.
Swarthmore begins the toughest stretch of their schedule when they travel to Chestertown, MD on Wednesday to face off against Washington College in a Centennial Conference match-up. Three of the Garnet's next four opponents are currently ranked in the top-20 nationally: Washington currently stands at #11, Gettysburg at #3, and Haverford is #15.