LAX Loses to Lyndon State in Overtime
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men’s lacrosse
team fought hard but lost an 11-10 decision in overtime to Lyndon
State College on Sunday afternoon.
Chris Mansour netted the game-winning goal with just 25 seconds
remaining in the overtime period to give Lyndon State the victory
in its season opener. The Hornets were down a man at the time, but
Mansour picked off an outlet pass in Mitchell’s end and
charged in for the score from in front of the net.
Mansour led the Hornets with four goals while Max Ercole added
three and Taylor Stout had two. Josh Arango chipped in with a goal
and a game-high four assists, and goalkeeper Christian Henault
finished with 12 saves against 33 shots.
Senior John Kearney led Mitchell (0-2 overall) with four goals
while junior Patrick Nielsen added three goals and two
assists. The Mariners also got a solid outing in goal from
sophomore Joseph Nott, who finished with 19 saves and allowed
only three goals after the halftime break.
Lyndon State came out firing, scoring six of the first seven goals
in the contest to vault out to a five-goal lead. Ercole netted all
three of his goals in the game’s first nine minutes to
provide the spark. The Mariners, however, closed the opening
quarter with goals from Kearney and senior Chris
Saunderson to cut the deficit to 6-3.
Mitchell closed the gap even more in the second quarter. Kearney,
Nielsen and sophomore Adam
Grillo all scored during a five-minute stretch that left the
Mariners trailing 7-6 with 5:02 remaining before the half. Mansour
wrapped up the first half with a goal at the 1:07 mark to give the
Hornets an 8-6 lead at the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, Mitchell pulled even at 8-8 with
7:48 to play behind scores from Kearney and Nielsen. After Mansour
put the Hornets back up just over a minute later with his third
goal of the day, Nielsen took a feed from Saunderson and tied the
game again at 9-9 with 5:36 to go.
Mitchell took its first lead of the contest just over two minutes
later, with Grillo scoring on a man-up opportunity to put the
Mariners in front 10-9. Stout provided the answer for Lyndon State,
scoring moments later to tie the game and send it into extra
time.
The Mariners looked to have the advantage when a Lyndon State
defender was whistled for a slash with 1:10 to play in the overtime
stanza. Mitchell had one look at the goal with the extra man, but
Nielsen missed wide and the ball went to the Hornets. Mansour later
came through with the game-winning score, the second shorthanded
goal of the day for Lyndon State.
The Hornets outshot the Mariners 54-33 and held a 65-53 advantage
in ground balls. Lyndon State also won 19 of 24 face-offs and went
2-for-9 on extra-man opportunities. Mitchell scored just one goal
in 14 man-up situations.
Mitchell will look to break into the win column at home against
Mount Saint Vincent College on Wednesday, March 24 at 3:30 p.m.
