ANGOLA, Ind. – Late game heroics extended the game, and the Trine University men's lacrosse team defeated visiting Otterbein University 8-7 in overtime.
The Thunder scored the first goal of the contest just over two minutes into the game. JJ Boos tallied the goal to give the team a 1-0. The Cardinals responded with the next three goals, all in the first quarter, taking a 3-1 lead into the first break.
Boos scored again in the opening minute of the second, followed over the next few minutes by Chris Molnar and Collin Custer who gave the team another lead 4-3. It looked like that score would last to intermission, but a controversial wide long range shot by Otterbein allowed the visitors to set up a play behind the net. They converted for the goal just before the horn sounded at the end of the half.
The Cardinals retook the lead in the third minute of the third quarter. It took five more minutes for Rocco Curatola to equalize the game at five. In the final minutes of the quarter a penalty gave the opposition an advantage that led to a 6-5 lead for Otterbein at the start of the fourth quarter.
Mitchell Voglewede tied the game again with 9:44 remaining in regulation, but just over a minute and a half later the visitors responded to make the score 7-6.
Both teams killed off two-minute penalties over the next eight minutes, first the Thunder then the Cardinals.
With just 45 seconds remaining Otterbein had a pass go wide of the mark in the offensive zone and gave the Thunder a final possession. Following timeouts by both teams to set up their strategies, Trine ran the offense for 28 seconds before Voglewede forced a shot that went right into the stick of the opposition's goalie.
The keeper spun out of traffic behind the net and then attempted to step into a long pass down the field that would have ended the contest. Curatola leaped into the air just ahead of the throw, extending his stick above his head one-handed and intercepting the pass. He dove back toward the front of the net and toward midfield, firing a shot past the scrambling goalie that tied the game with just two seconds remaining on the clock.
The Cardinals committed a pushing penalty in the opening seconds of the overtime period and gave the Thunder a man-up chance. After working the ball around the zone, it ended up with Custer near the 30-yard line. He passed into traffic in front of the net, finding Will Gonia who quickly turned and fired a shot into the top of the net.
Curatola was the leader both offensively and defensively in the game. He finished tied with Boos on the offensive side, both recording two goals and an assist in the contest. Curatola then tied with Mason Kaufmann on defense each with a pair of caused turnovers. All told the Thunder had 11 caused turnovers in the game.
Sean Kohloff went 12-4 in the faceoff circle and led the team with six groundballs, joined by Zachary Norris who also finished with six in the game.
In goal, Luke Arnold started the game and led the way with six saves despite allowing four goals. Zade Gawrys finished out the contest and earned the win.
The Thunder improve to 4-0 following the win. They will continue their season when they travel to Alfred State University on Wednesday, March 5. That game is scheduled to be played at 4 p.m.
