Men's Lax drops home opener in OT 7-6 to Albertus Magnus

North Adams, MA-- Visiting Albertus Magnus tied the game up with just four minutes remaining in regulation and then Zaheim Wilkins netted the game winner in overtime to lift the Falcons past the MCLA Trailblazers 7-6 this afternoon at Shewcraft Field.  The match was the season opener for Albertus Magnus (1-0).  It marked the home opener for MCLA who is now 0-2 early on in the season.

This contest was tight throughout as neither side led by more than a goal.  The game entered the fourth quarter tied up at 5-5 and neither side would mount much offense until the late game fireworks.  MCLA struck first with 5:12 left to play as Tom Irwin scored unassisted to give the hosts a 6-5 edge.  The lead was short lived however as the Falcons tied things up just one minute later.  Andrew Luzzi potted the tying goal off a Charles Stewart feed and the game was tied at 6 apiece.

Each side garnered a shot on goal as time ticked away, but the match was destined for overtime.

MCLA won the faceoff but a turnover gave the hosts the ball setting up Wilkins' heroics.  He would drive through the MCLA defense and beat Trailblazer keeper Brady Larkin to give the Falcons the win.

Early on the two teams traded goals.  Johnny Hebert started things off in the first for MCLA and then the Falcons' Andrew Ten tied things up at the end of the quarter.  Hebert would tally again early in the second before Albertus goals from Derek Ralston and Cody Walczak gave them the lead at 3-2.  Trailblazer John Hankel would tie things up once again and the match would go to halftime tied at 3-3.

Ten scored his second of the night early in the third quarter but MCLA answered with goals from Tom Irwin and Nathan Haley to take a 5-4 lead.  Shane Kelly's marker for Albertus sent the game into the fourth quarter knotted up at 5-5.

Albertus held a 40-30 shot advantage and scooped up 37 groundballs compared to 30 for the hosts.  Ten ended with two goals and two assists for four points to lead the Falcons.  Dane Walsh ended with 12 saves in net to earn his first win of the season.

For MCLA, they were paced by Hebert and Irwin.  They each scored twice while Hebert added an assist to his stat line.  Larkin was solid in net with 15 saves for the Trailblazers.

MCLA is off for ten days as they will travel to Wells College over Spring Break.