4/9/08

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.—Lycoming’s men’s lacrosse team (7-4, 2-1) was unable to continue its seven-game winning streak on Wednesday at Shangraw Athletic Complex. The Warriors lost to conference opponent Messiah College in double-overtime by a score of 12-11.

Lycoming seniors Dan Cannon (Orangeville, Ont.) and Jim Cusick (Garnet Valley, Pa.) led the team with three goals apiece. Cannon recorded three assists for the game, as did sophomore Nate Walter (Harrisburg, Pa.). Sophomore Ed Williams (Florham Park, N.J.) had two goals and an assist, while freshman Andrew Stoner (Orangeville, Ont.) recorded two assists. Messiah’s Jeff Ziegler notched six goals and an assist.

The Warriors opened the scoring on a Williams goal at 12:38, but Falcon Brent Stewart won the ensuing face-off  and took it straight to the goal to even the tally. Messiah scored twice more before Lyco’s Brad Schaeffer (Smithsburg, Md.) found the net to make the score 3-2 at the end of the first quarter.

Cannon scored twice on Walter assists in the second period, but the Falcons racked up five more goals to go into halftime ahead 8-4. Both teams registered two goals in the third quarter to make the tally 10-6 with 15 minutes left in regulation.

The Warriors put it between the pipes five times in the fourth period, gaining momentum and energy and capturing their first lead on a Steve Henz (Shoreham, N.Y.) goal with 6:49 on the clock. However, Falcon Nick Ricucci found the net at 5:22 to knot the score at 11 and force overtime.

The first bonus period went scoreless, due in part to a stingy Lycoming defense, led by goalie Kyle Gilfoy (Exton, Pa.) who recorded seven of his nine saves after halftime. But less than a minute into the second overtime, Ziegler scored the “golden goal” for Messiah, handing Lycoming its first Middle Atlantic Conference loss of the season.

The Warriors look to get back on track at Widener on Saturday, April 12. The conference match-up will face-off at 1 p.m.