Hubbard’s Big Day Not Enough as Bears Outlast Garnet Lax 8-7 (OT)
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. - Sophomore midfielder Max Hubbard netted a career-high four goals on just five shots, but an overtime goal from Ursinus's Eric Farris, who scored three goals of his own, was the difference as the Bears rallied to defeat the Garnet 8-7 (OT) from Eleanor Frost Snell Field at Ursinus College.
Senior Tyler Bradshaw scored two goals - bringing his team-leading total to 10 - while adding an assist to lead the Garnet (1-3, 0-1). Freshman Wes Marick also found the back of the net, while Hubbard added three ground balls.
Hubbard scored a career-high four goals for the Garnet.
A very physical and hard-fought game from both sides - which each team recording five penalties - was close from whistle-to-whistle, with the lead exchanging hands five times and no team pulling ahead by more than two goals at any point.
The Bears (5-0, 1-0) took a 6-5 lead heading in the final period, thanks in part to a goal from Dan Monzo with just :11 remaining in the third period, but the Garnet rallied for two goals over two minutes, seizing the lead in the Centennial Conference opener for both squads. Bradshaw's team-leading 10th goal tied the game at the 7:59 mark, while Hubbard's fourth and final goal gave Swat the 7-6 lead with 6:10 left to play.
But just one minute later, Ursinus had the equalizer, as the Bears forced a turnover from Swarthmore's Mark Czernyk immediately following the faceoff and worked the offense before David Kraus tied the game 7-7. The game would remain scoreless over the final 4:57 of play, and the game went to overtime.
In the extra session, the Garnet never even got a shot off before Farris ended the game at 2:34 mark with a clear blast from the top of the zone, giving the Bears the 8-7 win.
Senior All-American candidate Kevin Freidenberg was once again strong in net, recording 10 saves and picking up a team-high six ground balls. Ursinus goalkeeper T.J. Magnani finished with seven saves.
The Bears stuck first in the game, thanks to a goal from Farris at the 12:15 mark, giving Ursinus the early 1-0. But after 10 minutes of being stuck on 1-0, Swat's offense came to life in the final 90 seconds of the period, scoring two goals - one from Bradshaw on an assist from senior Gavin Musynske and one from Hubbard on a Bradshaw feed with just :02 seconds left on the clock - to take a 2-1 lead after the first period.
The Bears answered in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals in first five minutes of play, as Farris' second goal of the game put the Bears back on top 4-2 with 10:55 remaining. Two minutes later, Hubbard converted on his second goal of the game on a man-up opportunity thanks to a Farris penalty, cutting the lead the lead to 4-3. Then, with just 2:49 remaining in the half, Marick continued the impressive start to his first-year campaign, scoring an unassisted goal to bring Swat even at 4-4, a score that would last until the half.
Swat finished the game with slight advantages in clears (18-16) and ground balls 31-26.
With the win, Ursinus moves to 5-0 mark - the best start in the history of the program.
The Garnet return to action on Saturday with a home tilt against Dickinson, Action is slated to begin at 1:00 and can be viewed via the Garnet Sports Network.