GEORGETOWN - Going into the fourth quarter, the Southwestern University men's lacrosse team faced an 11-10 deficit in a highly entertaining contest. However, Alfred would score six goals in the final period to pull away for a 17-12 victory on Wednesday evening at Varsity Field.
The Saxons out shot the Pirates 55-33 and held a 52-31 advantage in ground ablls. Alfred won 23 of 32 face offs, but Southwestern kept pace throughout the evening as they forced 25 Saxon turnovers.
Alfred started the first quarter out strong as they scored three straight goals to open up a 3-0 lead. However, Southwestern closed the final eight minutes of the period better, scoring four goals to take a 4-3 advantage into the second.
Junior Kai Knight-Turcan got things rolling with a goal before back-to-back goals by sophomore Zach Taylor. Junior Jared Welsh scored with only eight seconds remaining in the first to put Southwestern on top 4-3.
The two teams would trade goals in the second quarter as Alfred began the scoring to tie it at four. Senior Jordan Riggs pushed Southwestern back ahead before another Saxon goal evened it back up. Junior Logan Spalding made it 6-5, Alfred answered, and then Knight-Turcan scored his second goal of the contest to move ahead 7-6.
Alfred got a goal at the buzzer to even the game at seven going into the break.
It was more of the same back-and-forth action in third as Alfred opened it up with two consecutive goals to move ahead 9-7, their first lead since 2:47 remaining in the first. Freshman Zac Asbury and senior Matt Amerie responded with back-to-back goals and we were tied again at nine.
The Saxons got two more goals to make it 11-9, but Taylor brought Southwestern back with his third goal of the game, his first career hat trick, and the Pirates trailed 11-10 going into the fourth.
In the fourth, the Saxons took complete control beginning with four consecutive goals to open up a 15-10 lead. Riggs and Asbury scored two of the next three goals, but it was not enough as Alfred closed the game out for the 17-12 victory.
Taylor led the way with three goals on only three shots while Knight-Turcan added two goals and four assists. Asbury scored twice with two assists while Riggs scored a pair to go with three caused turnovers and three ground balls. Junior Everett Barger had an assist on the evening as well.
Freshman Conor Medina had four caused turnovers and eight ground balls while junior Steven Mesquiti had three caused turnovers and two ground balls. Senior Parker Rankin and sophomore Tanner Wallace each had two caused turnovers and three ground balls. Junior Kyle Kuberski picked up 14 saves in the cage.
Joe Fornataro led Alfred with five goals and two assists while Garrette Briggs had 12 ground balls. Drew Gardner had 13 saves in net.
Southwestern moves to 4-5 overall and return to action on Friday as they welcome Trine to Varsity Field at 7 PM.
