Pioneers Rally Late to Earn Thrilling OT Win Over King's

Pioneers Rally Late to Earn Thrilling OT Win Over King's

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Utica, N.Y. – The Utica College men’s lacrosse team scored six of the game’s final seven goals, including two in the final 1:04 of regulation and the game-winner 51 seconds into overtime, to help lift the Pioneers past King’s College, 9-8, Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  Junior Justin Edelstein netted two of the game’s final three goals, including the game-winner, while senior defender Mick Krajacic won five face-offs and caused four turnovers in the final 15:51 of play to help spark the Pioneer rally.

Utica, which avenged last year’s loss at King’s, improved to 5-2 overall and more importantly the Pioneers gained momentum headed into their Empire 8 Conference opener on Wednesday as they host Nazareth College at 4 p.m. The Monarch’s, who led by as many as four goals late in the third quarter, dropped to 2-5 overall. 

The UC rally was sparked by Krajacic late in the third quarter when he caused a turnover in the defensive zone, scooped up the ground ball, and charged the length of the field before passing to junior Trent Thomas.  Thomas gave the ball right back to Krjacic, a preseason All-American, who spun and netted his first goal of the year to cut UC’s deficit to 7-4 headed into the fourth quarter. 

Sophomore Scott Baron recorded two crucial fourth quarter tallies, including the game-tying goal with just 17 ticks left in regulation, to send the contest into overtime where it only took one Pioneer possession to seal the victory.  Edelstein’s game-winner just 51 seconds into overtime was a laser from 15 yards out after a pass from sophomore Joe Schoen. 

The Pioneers fell behind 4-1 in the first quarter after four different Monarch’s netted goals over the course of the final 7:22 of the opening stanza.  Edelstein opened up the  second quarter scoring to cut Utica’s deficit in half, 4-2, with 8:04 left in the first half.  King’s Tim Fulton put the Monarchs back on top, 5-2, when he scored his third of the year less than a minute after Edlestein’s first goal of the game.  Both team’s exchanged blows before the half and King’s took a 6-3 lead into the intermission. 
The first 11 minutes of the second half were uneventful until King’s senior midfielder Jason Merola scored his first goal of the contest to put the visitors on top by four goals, 7-3. 

That’s when Krajacic began to take over at the face-off “x” and on the defensive end to ignite the Pioneers’ six goal barrage in the final 16:04.  Krajacic finished the day with eight ground balls and seven caused turnovers, while senior goalie Wilson Mukrdechian scattered six saves in his first win of the year.

Schoen and Baron each tallied two goals for the Pioneers, while sophomore TJ Benson added a goal of his own.  Team-leading scorer Ben Winkler registered two assists and senior Oliver Barney recorded one of his own. 

Pat Bonnot and Lenny Fox each recorded two goals for King’s as four others netted one goal.  Billy McCullough won 10-of-20 face-offs for the Monarch’s and he also scooped up four ground balls, while defender Jamie Downs caused five turnovers.  King’s goalie Brendan McCrudden stopped eight shots and also picked up eight ground balls. 

It was an incredibly even game all around as UC outshot the visitors 31-28.  King’s earned a 29-28 ground ball advantage and the Monarch’s also won 11-of-21 face-offs. Each team registered 24 clears and one extra-man goal.