Lacrosse’s overtime goal extinguishes Flames, team advances to title game

Posted on by

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Midfielder Will Hersman’s game-winning goal about two minutes into the sudden-death overtime period sent the top-ranked St. Thomas men’s club lacrosse team back into the MCLA National Championship game for a fifth-straight year, following a 10-9 defeat of the Liberty (Va.).

St. Thomas will look to secure its fourth MCLA National Championship title in the last five years at 4 p.m. Saturday at Sirrine Stadium.

After an early Liberty goal to start the game, St. Thomas answered on a goal from attacker Peter Carbonneau to put the Tommies on the board. A second Carbonneau goal later in the quarter, along with a goal from midfielder Matt Kleven left the Tommies and Flames tied 3-3 at the end of the first.

A goal from attacker David Burke helped kick off a second quarter scoring surge for the Tommies. Midfielder Ben Lucius’ nifty backhand goal pushed the Tommie lead to 5-3. The goal was Lucius’ first of the MCLA tournament.

A pair of goals later in the quarter from midfielder David Chlipala gave St. Thomas a commanding 7-3 lead before an eighth from midfielder John Michael Coon was added to give the Tommies an 8-4 lead heading into the second half.

The offense continued to click early for St. Thomas as the team outshot Liberty 19-9 in the first half. Goalie Ryan Zeilinger made a lone save on five Flames shots before goalie Steven Bang replaced him to start the second half.

The Flames lived up to their name, coming out hot to open the second half, scoring two quick goals to cut the Tommies’ lead to only two in the third quarter. Burke added his second goal to put the Tommies up 9-6. St. Thomas dominated the first three quarters of the game, outshooting Liberty 42-17 heading into the fourth.

Liberty came out firing in the fourth quarter adding three goals to tie the game at nine and forcing sudden death overtime. Bang stood tall in the cage, stopping six Liberty shots on 11 attempts, including a crucial save out in front of the net late in the fourth quarter.

Hersman’s early overtime tally cemented the Tommies’ place in Saturday’s title match.

St. Thomas (16-0) will have Friday off to prepare for its championship matchup against Westminster (Va.) at 4 p.m. The Griffins clinched a title berth after defeating St. John’s (Minn.) 9-8 in triple overtime earlier Thursday.

Andrew Stafford can be reached at staf7499@stthomas.edu.