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For Immediate
Release: April 2, 2011
Contact: Kevin Solan (sports1@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478
Springer's
game-winner lifts BU men's lacrosse to thrilling 8-7 overtime
win over Vermont
Bearcats
rally from 7-3 deficit, scoring five unanswered to secure the
victory
Box Score
Highlights
Interviews
VESTAL, N.Y. -- The Binghamton University men's lacrosse team
(5-5, 1-0 AE) outscored the Vermont Catamounts (4-5, 0-1 AE)
5-0 over the final 18:01 to rally from a 7-3 deficit and post
a thrilling 8-7 overtime triumph in the America East opener Saturday
night from the Bearcats Sports Complex. Sophomore attackman Matt Springer netted the game-winner
off the feed from senior David Raleigh
with 59 seconds remaining in the sudden-death overtime period.
"The guys did a great job battling back," interim head
coach Kevin McKeown said. "It was a great effort by our
defense in the second half. Kraig [Heston] did a great job and
our close defenders were excellent on their attack. Matt [Springer]
and the rest of the guys started to find the net in the second
half. We had our opportunities in the first half but we didn't
finish, and we were able to finish our shots in the second half."
Trailing 7-3 entering the final frame, Springer started the comeback
with a score off the assist from senior Frank
Donlon at the 9:04 mark. Donlon managed a goal of his own
46 seconds later to pull the Bearcats within striking distance
with 8:18 to play. Sophomore Tyler Perrelle
cut the margin to 7-6 when he rifled home a score four minutes
later. At about the two minute mark, Perrelle had the ball poked
out of his stick and freshman Brandon Planck
scooped up the loose ball in traffic and coverted the score from
point blank range.
Each team committed turnovers in their potential game-winning
possessions over the final 1:45 of regulation.
The Catamounts had a golden opportunity to secure the win 19
seconds into the extra session. A costly turnover by junior face-off
specialist Chris Cook seconds into the
overtime period led to a breakout by Vermont's Max Gradinger,
who intercepted Cook's pass and outletted up the field. Geoff
Worley sprinted up the field in a one-on-one situation with BU
goalie Kraig Heston, who made a brilliant
stop from point blank range. Heston made a great effort to contest
Worley's shot by cutting the angle down, forcing Worley to shoot
around him.
Junior Ben Waldron forced a turnover
by Worley with under two minutes remaining which led to a Binghamton
timeout at the 1:22 mark. Raleigh operated the offense from the
top of the attack zone and circled around the right side, where
he found Springer on the doorstep. Falling to the ground as he
released, Springer converted the one-timer right-handed as the
Vermont defense collapsed on him.
The Bearcats clamped down defensively after the break, holding
the Catamounts to only two goals over the final 33:01. Senior
defenseman Derrick Danieu caused a
team-high three turnovers and held Vermont's leading scorer Drew
Philie without a goal in a stellar defensive outing. Heston made
five saves and allowed only seven goals in 63 minutes to improve
to 5-2 in cage.
Seven different Bearcats made their way into the scoring column
while Springer was the only player to post multiple scores.
Kyle Sminkey recorded a hat trick to lead Vermont with a game-high
three goals.
At the face-off X, Binghamton controlled 10-of-18 draws, including
5-of-6 over the pivotal fourth quarter and overtime session.
The Bearcats outshot Vermont 38-29 and held a slight advantage
in ground balls, 22-19.
The Catamounts limited a potent man-up offense to a 1-of-6 conversion
rate. With 3:33 to play in the third quarter, Vermont was whistled
for three penalties in the same possession which gave BU a 6-on-3
man-up situation for 30 seconds. However, a stingy man-down defense
by the visiting squad limited Binghamton to only one shot during
that span.
Binghamton travels to Baltimore next Saturday to face UMBC at
noon.
NOTES: Matt Springer and Kyle Sminkey were named the America
East Players of the Game ... Binghamton improved to 3-1 at home
this season and 5-5 in America East openers ... Tonight's contest
marks the second overtime win over Vermont and the third time
BU defeated the Catamounts by the margin of 8-7 ... Binghamton
beat Vermont 8-7 in double overtime back in 2005 |
