FREDERICK, Md.--Senior Sofiane Lazar pocketed the sudden-victory
score 1:10 into the first overtime period to propel the Hood
College men's lacrosse team (3-2) to a thrilling 13-12 victory over
the visiting Washington & Jefferson College Presidents (1-1)
Saturday afternoon at Thomas Athletic Field.
The Blazers started strong but managed to eke out the overtime
victory despite some late-game adversity.
W&J trailed 12-10 late in the fourth quarter but notched
back-to-back scores by Joseph Eck in the final 1:13, the second of
which knotted the game at 12-12 with 36 seconds left. W&J won
the ensuing face-off after Hood's Hector Montoya was whistled for a
one-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
W&J cleared the ball successfully into their offensive zone
but was unable to get a shot off before time expired. At the close
of regulation, Hood was whistled for a second one-minute violation
for slashing, giving the Presidents a two-man advantage to start
the extra session.
W&J's Jackson Doyle, who had already netted a hat trick on
the day, ripped a shot on goal at the onset of the extra session
but keeper Will Lane came up with the clutch save. Lane launched
the ball downfield to Dom Shorter in the Blazers' offensive zone
and Hood called a timeout with 3:30 left in the extra session to
set up a play.
At this point, the first of the two one-minute penalties had
been released, but the Blazers were still a man down for another 30
seconds.
Shortly after the Blazers regained full strength, Trey Freeman
found Lazar in front of the cage for the game-winning score, and a
jubilant dog pile ensued as the Blazer bench stormed the turf in
elation after the hard-fought victory.
Hood led 3-1 after the first quarter after scores by Kris Miner,
Troy Hubbard and Shorter. But the Presidents countered by
outscoring the Blazers 5-4 in the second period. Shorter collected
his ninth goal of the year with 16 seconds left in the half to give
Hood a narrow 7-6 edge at halftime.
Freeman pushed the lead to 8-6 within the first minute of the
third quarter with an unassisted score. The Presidents reeled off
the next three tallies to assume their first lead of the day, 9-8,
following a goal by Andrew Wallick at the 3:36 mark of the stanza.
Hood responded with a quick three-goal run over the final 3:22
of the quarter to regain an 11-9 edge. A pair of Corey Roberts
goals bookended a Lazar score in the spurt.
The two teams exchanged goals within the first 1:46 of the
fourth quarter, setting up the dramatic finish.
Hood outshot the Presidents 41-40 and won 14 face-offs to
W&J's 13. The Blazers also went 3-for-7 on extra-man chances
and killed off all six W&J opportunities.
Freeman finished with four points on two goals and two assists
while Miner netted a hat trick. Roberts, Shorter and Lazar all
scored twice while Hubbard and Blake Rust added single tallies.
Alex Engler was credited with three assists and Hector Montoya was
credited with 14 face-off wins.
Lane finished with 11 saves and earned the victory after logging
all 61:10 between the pipes.
Eck paced the W&J attack with five goals while Doyle added
three. Andrew Wallick tacked on a pair of scores and Tom Starr and
Mark Ringeling netted one apiece.
Hood remains undefeated at home and continues its five-game
homestand Wednesday against Neumann College at 3:30 p.m.
