Newton, MA-- Massachusetts Maritime tied a Pilgrim League men's lacrosse game with the Lasell College Lasers at seven-all with one second left in regulation, and then stole away with the sudden death overtime game, 8-7, two minutes into the extra period on Saturday.
With eighteen seconds left in regulation, and a 7-6 Laser lead, Lasell was charged with a thirty second penalty for having too many players on the field. Chris Davis (Cohasset, MA) took advantage of the Buccaneers’ extra-man opportunity, recording the game-tying goal with just one second left on the clock. Davis curled around the Lasers’ net and received a pass from Craig Nichols (Marshfield, MA) at the top of the box. Davis released on the high left corner of the net to force the extra session.
Lasell won the face-off in overtime, but an unfortunate turnover gave Maritime possession one minute into the period. After a timeout by the Buccaneers, Connor Burke (Del Mar, CA) unleashed a cannon of a shot from the left hand side of the field to seal the sudden death victory for Maritime. This was the Buccaneers first Pilgrim League win of the season.
The Lasers held a 5-2 advantage through the first period, and took a 5-3 edge into halftime. Massachusetts Maritime scored the first two goals of the third period to knot the score at five-all, and took their first lead with 1:27 left in the third quarter when Will Doucette (Manchester, MA) took off from midfield and ran across the crease to score on the high right side of the net. Lasell’s Sean Speciale (Hillsborough, NJ) returned the score to an even mark with 41 seconds left in the half, diving around the cage to toss in his second goal of the game.
Brian Yepez (Hillsborough, NJ) scored man-up with 6:55 on the clock in the final regulation period, giving Lasell the 7-6 lead before Davis scored in the final second.
Davis finished with three goals and Nichols ended the game with three assists for the visitors. James Hitchings (Dover, MA) made 12 saves in the Buccaneers goal, earning the conference victory.
Jon Elia (East Lyme, CT) and Andy Puopolo (Duxbury, MA) both ended the game with three points for the Lasers. Elia score two goals and passed out one helper, while Puopolo found the back of the Buccaneers’ net once, and distributed two assists. Adam Foss (Billerica, MA) chipped in with a goal and an assist and Anthony Erz (Hampton, NJ) won 8-of-17 face-offs. Eric Walsh (Weymouth, MA) stopped ten Maritime shot opportunities but was hit with the loss in Lasell’s net.
The game concluded the season for both teams, Lasell finishing the year with a 5-11 overall record, and a 3-4 Pilgrim League slate, while Maritime’s year culminated in a 3-12 mark, and a 1-6 record in the conference.