Men's Lacrosse Opens Season with Triple-Overtime Heartbreaker to Chestnut Hill, 7-6
Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y. (Feb. 25, 2012) – On Saturday, the Mercy College men's lacrosse team opened up its third season of play in program history against East Coast Conference-opponent Chestnut Hill College at SUNY Purchase in Purchase, N.Y. The Mavericks dropped the game in heartbreaking fashion as the Griffins scored the winning goal in triple-overtime, 7-6.
Mercy sophomore attacker Zack Zangle (West Babylon, N.Y.) kicked off the scoring frenzy as he netted his first goal of the year just under four minutes gone by in the opening period. Chestnut Hill was able to tie it three minutes later at 8:33 when junior midfielder Mike Duddy (Toms River, N.J.) scored.
In the second quarter, the Mavericks' pair of goals were sandwiched by two Griffin goals. Junior midfielder Alex Martello (Montville, N.J.) and junior attackman Joe Poppe (Elbridge, N.Y.) found the back of the netting for Mercy. Martello's marker was unassisted, while Poppe popped in a quick goal off a feed near the crease from Martello.
At halftime, the contest was tied 3-3.
Early on in the third quarter, Griffins junior attacker Craig Owen (Glenolden, Pa.) scored a man-up goal to take the lead. Six and five minutes later, senior attack Sal Spinelli (East Islip, N.Y.) and junior midfielder C.J. Fleming (Middletown, N.Y.), both making their Mercy debuts, fired shots past the Chestnut Hill goalkeeper to grab the lead back.
Chestnut Hill sophomore attack and last season's ECC Rookie of the Year, Mike Melnychenko (St. Catherines, Ontario), scored his first tally of the season with 1:33 left in the third to even the game at 5-5.
Martello was responsible for another Mavericks' goal as he assisted on senior midfielder Craig Blum (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.)'s marker at 11:34 in the fourth. Five minutes later, the Griffins denied the game of ending in regulation as Melnychenko scored a man-up goal.
In the first two 4-minute overtime periods no scoring was witnessed by the energetic and loud crowd comprised of both Mavericks and Griffins supporters. Duddy opened up the scoring for Chestnut Hill and he was the one to end it as he notched the game-winning seventh goal with 2:53 left in the third overtime period.
Mavericks junior midfielder and faceoff expert John Lionetti (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) led the game with 10 ground balls. Mercy junior cageminder T.J. DiCarlo (Farmingdale, N.Y.) stopped a game-best 14 shots, while Chestnut Hill junior goalkeeper Dakota Maurer (Lititz, Pa.) recorded 10 saves.
Head Coach Steve Manitta and the Mavericks return to action on Tuesday, March 6 when they travel to Colchester, Vt. to take on St. Michael's College. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
