GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa.- Trailing by two points with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, senior Joey Hoover (Selinsgrove, Pa. / Selinsgrove Area) secured back-to-back goals to tie the game for the Lycoming College men's lacrosse team, but a Gwynedd Mercy University goal with 3:16 left helped it post an 11-10 win in non-conference action in Lycoming's season opener on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the GMU Athletic Complex.
Sophomore Brogan Wooley (Hampton, N.J. / Morris Catholic) and senior Sean Farrell (Allentown, Pa. / Allentown Central Catholic) each added five points for the Warriors (0-1 overall). Wooley recorded four goals and an assist to secure his five points, and Sean Farrell contributed two goals and three assists. Hoover scored two goals and two assists, and senior Jakob Switzer (West Pittston, Pa. / Wyoming Area) also recorded six ground balls to go with one caused turnover.
The Warriors kicked off the scoring in the first quarter with a goal by senior Ryan Farrell (Swedesboro, N.J. / Archmere Academy) in the second minute, which the Griffins matched a minute later. Lycoming reclaimed their early lead 30 seconds later with a goal by Wooley, yet Gwynedd Mercy bounced back with three goals in the fifth, sixth, and eighth minutes to take a two-point lead. Sean Farrell clocked the Warriors' third goal in the ninth minute and Wooley came in with 36 seconds on the clock to tie the game 4-4.
In the second period, the Warriors and the Griffins each added two points to the board, tying at 6 as the field cleared for halftime. For Lycoming, Sean Farrell added the first goal of the period in the eighth minute, assisted by Wooley. Five minutes later, Wooley returned to secure another point, assisted by Sean Farrell.
Gwynedd Mercy pulled ahead in the third quarter with a one-point lead, securing two goals in the 11th and 14th minutes. Senior Shayne Wilson (Smyrna, Del. / Smyrna) added the Warriors' only goal of the third period with 7:11 on the clock. Trailing by one as the Warriors entered the fourth quarter, Wooley pushed forward to tie the game at 8 with 11:33 left in play. The Griffins answered with back-to-back goals in the sixth and seventh minutes to lead by two. Hoover rallied with two goals, both of which were assisted by Sean Farrell, in the eighth and 11th minutes to tie the game at 10. A minute later, Dominic Romania scored the game-winning shot to bring the final score to 11-10.
In the cage for the Warriors, senior Ben Franco (Macungie, Pa. / Emmaus) recorded 21 saves against Gwynedd Mercy. Gwynedd Mercy's goalkeeper Jared Devine clocked 11 saves.
Gunnar Seaman led Gwynedd Mercy (1-2 overall) with six points, including four goals and two assists. Ian Kish and Dominic Romania each added two goals and one assist to the board for the Griffins. Jake Tedeschi had seven groundballs and Ryan Wilkins caused three turnovers.
The Warriors travel to Meadville, Pa., on Saturday, March 1, to play against Allegheny College at 1 p.m. in non-conference action.
