By Cooper Sutton
Sports Editor
With 2:40 left in double overtime of Monday’s Patriot League opener at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, Todd Heritage ’14 ripped the game-winning goal to push the men’s lacrosse team to a huge 12-11 win against Navy.
Heritage’s game-winner saved what could have been a disappointing Bison meltdown. Navy seemed defeated after Chase Bailey ’13 scored a goal in the final minutes to extend the Bison lead to two, but in the furious final 18 seconds of regulation the Midshipmen scored twice to keep their hopes alive.
The Bison started the game fast, jumping out to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter. In just over a minute of game time in the middle of the quarter, Billy Eisenreich ’12, Mike Danylyshyn ’11 and Nick Gantsoudes ’12 each scored a goal to take a commanding lead.
The Midshipmen did not give up, evening up the score at five in the second quarter. After Navy took its run, the Orange and Blue responded in kind. In the second half, the Bison looked once again as if they would cruise to victory, taking a 9-5 lead.
The tide turned once more when the Bison stopped winning the face-off battle. Giving away extra possessions to the Midshipmen down the stretch, the team gave up its four-point lead and nearly let its first league win disappear.
It took nearly two sudden death overtime periods to restore the Bison advantage one final time. With Heritage’s goal, the Bison moved to 1-0 in the Patriot League.
Midfielder Eisenrich recorded one of the best games of his career, registering two goals and five assists. Danylyshyn and Gantsoudes, also midfielders, also scored two goals apiece.
On attack, Ryan Klipstein ’11 scored three goals to lead the team, and Heritage scored two. In goal, Kyle Feeney ’13 saved seven while letting in 11.
In the end, the Bison took advantage of the extra possessions that Navy gave away. The Orange and Blue had the advantage in face-offs, 15-13, and turnovers, 15-16. The Midshipmen’s 16th and final turnover led to the Bison’s winning shot.
The Bison will once again play an out-of-conference opponent against Hobart tomorrow at 1 p.m.
