No. 12/15 Men's Lacrosse Overcomes Five-Goal Deficit to Defeat Saint Leo, 12-11
Box Score SAINT LEO, Fla. (Mar. 8, 2015) – Junior Robert Rossi (North Massapequa, N.Y./Adelphi) scored a game-winning goal with 1:21 remaining in the fourth quarter as the No. 12/15 Mercy College men's lacrosse team overcame a five-goal deficit to defeat Saint Leo University, 12-11, on Sunday afternoon.
The Mavericks (3-1) have now had all four of their games this season decided by one goal, while the Lions (3-2) have their two-game winning streak snapped.
Rossi once again led the team in goals with five on the day on ten shots, while senior Jesse Wood (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Catholic Central) struck for two goals and assisted on three others. Junior Kyle Stockton (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) added two goals and an assist and sophomore Daniel Speicher (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) chipped in a goal and an assist. Senior Zack Haun (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca East Senior) and sophomore Nick Wilcox (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) each found the back of the net and freshman goalie Michael Schneider (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) made 12 saves in earning his first collegiate win.
The home team was led by Dylan Yonts who ended the day with three goals and an assist.
Saint Leo would waste little time getting on the board as they broke through for the first goal of the game less than a minute in to take an early 1-0 lead. The Lions tacked on another to build a 2-0 advantage less than five minutes in.
Speicher got the Mavericks on the board with a goal at the 1:47 mark of the first quarter to cut the deficit to 2-1. Chad Marino found the back of the net for the Lions with five seconds left to give Saint Leo a 3-1 lead after one.
Following Rossi's first goal of the game at the six minute mark of the second quarter that cut the Lions lead to 4-2, the home team would score three unanswered in nearly two minutes to take their largest lead of the game, 7-2, with 2:44 remaining before halftime. Haun got the Mavericks closer heading into half with a tally at the 1:21 mark to trim the Lions lead to 7-3 heading into the intermission.
The beginning of the second half saw Wood and Stockton score back-to-back goals to get Mercy within two, 7-5, at the 8:44 mark of the third. The Mavericks would close the period by scoring four of the last five goals of the frame as Wood scored his second of the day and Rossi tallied three straight to give Mercy their first lead of the game at 9-8 heading into the fourth.
The Mavericks would take the momentum from the end of the third and carry it over to the fourth quarter as Wilcox put one in off a feed from Wood to give Mercy a 10-8 lead with 12 minutes left to play.
Three straight goals by the Lions put them back up 11-10 with 7:23 left, but a Stockton goal with 5:44 showing on the clock tied the game up at 11-11.
Both teams would have chances to take the lead in the ensuing minutes with Rossi hitting the post on a shot at the two minute mark. However, following a Mercy timeout the junior would not be denied as he took a ball from Wood and fired it past the keeper to give the Mavericks a 12-11 lead with 1:21 left.
Despite Saint Leo winning the ensuing faceoff, the Mavericks would hold on as Schneider came up with a big save with just two seconds left to secure the comeback win.
Mercy held a 33-32 edge in shots, but was on the short end of a 49-37 edge in ground balls. The Mavericks were able to walk out victorious despite winning only 6-of-27 faceoffs.
Head Coach Jordan Levine and the Mavericks return to action as they play at Rollins College on Tuesday, March 10th at 7 p.m.
