SALISBURY, N.C. – The nationally seventh-ranked Limestone College men's lacrosse team used a 7-1 run to overcome an early deficit before scoring the game-winner with less than three minutes remaining in regulation to edge Catawba College, 12-11, in nonconference action on Friday, April 6.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 7 Limestone 12, Catawba 11
Records: No. 7 Limestone (9-4), Catawba (5-6)
Location: Shuford Stadium
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Senior Charlie Sheehan (St. Catharines, Ontario) registered a pair of goals
- Senior Brendan P. Smith (West Islip, N.Y.) also finished with two scores
- Junior Matt Hommel (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) tallied two goals
- Junior Jeremy Burns (Fort Mitchell, Ky.) added a goal and an assist
- Sophomore Tyler Papa (Manlius, N.Y.) chipped in two points on a goal and an assist
- Freshman Cody Solmosy (Farmingville, N.Y.) recorded a goal
- Freshman Noah Lindner (Apple Valley, Minn.) posted a score
- Senior keeper Cole Aikens (Novato, Calif.) registered 10 saves to pick up the win
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Catawba stormed out of the gates with three quick scores before junior
Brian Huyghue (Halifax, Nova Scotia) put the Saints on the board at the 8:48-mark. Back-to-back goals by Burns and Smith tied things up a few ticks later, but the Indians answered with a pair of tallies to take a 5-3 lead at the end of one.
Second Quarter
The Indians doubled up Limestone, 8-4, after scoring three of the first four goals of the second period, but a score by Smith on the other end would spark a 5-0 run for the Blue and Gold that spanned the halftime break. Sheehan and Solmosy each scored for the Saints as the visitors closed the gap to 8-7 at the half.
Third Quarter
Lindner tied the game for the Saints, splitting the frame for the equalizer less than 90 seconds into the third, before Hommel capped the scoring run a few moments later to give Limestone its first lead of the night at 9-8. The lead was short-lived, however, as Catawba evened things up with 9:14 left in the period.
The Blue and Gold won the ensuing faceoff and would regain the lead, 10-9, as Papa closed the scoring in the quarter with an unassisted goal – his 14
th of the season.
Fourth Quarter
Limestone extended the margin early in the fourth as sophomore
Clark Walter (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) fired a laser past the keeper to make it an 11-9 game. The Indians refused to go away though as they countered with two quick scores to once again tie the contest with just over five minutes left.
Deadlocked at 11 in the closing minutes, Hommel registered his second goal of the night as the Saints moved back in front, 12-11, with 2:48 showing on the clock. Limestone would then hold strong in the final seconds, fending off a man-down situation to close out the one-goal road decision.
TURNING POINT
The Saints used a 7-1 run that spanned from the 7:49-mark of the second quarter until early in the fourth, but Catawba would score two straight goals to tie things in the closing minutes. Limestone scored the game-winner with 2:48 remaining and then held firm in the late going to preserve the 12-11 win.
NOTABLES
- Limestone finished with a 47-36 advantage in shots attempted and a 32-22 edge in groundballs
- The Saints matched Catawba at the center "X" as both finished 13-of-26 in the faceoff circle
- Sophomore Dakota Kirsh-Downs (Odenton, Md.) recorded seven groundballs
- The Blue and Gold improves to 25-0 all-time against the Indians
UP NEXT
Following back-to-back road games, Limestone returns home to face North Greenville University in Conference Carolinas action on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m.