CONKLIN LIFTS CHARGERS OVER SPARTANS IN OT
Sparkill, N.Y. (3/13/24) The Dominican University New York men's lacrosse team edged the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas College 12-11 in overtime.
Midfielder James Conklin (Warwick, N.Y.) lifted the Chargers over the Spartans with the game winning goal with seven seconds remaining in the OT period.
With the win, the Chargers improve to 2-3 overall while STAC falls to 2-6 overall.
Freshman keeper Bryce Layton (Glenville, N.Y.) earned his second win of the season in net for the Chargers and recorded 13 saves. Spartan keeper Craig Peavy made 20 saves but suffered the loss.
Chad Keyser (Kingston, N.Y.) and Zachary Souza (Stratford, Conn.) each had a hat trick in the win. Conklin finished with two goals including the game winner and added two assists.
Cole Vencak (Smithtown, N.Y.), Brendan O'Connor (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), Sean Cosgrove (Warwick. N.Y.), and Eric Greenwood (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) each scored one goal.
The Chargers held the edge in ground balls 47-36 with Patrick Roderka (Warwick, N.Y.) picking up a team-high eight ground balls while Michael Aufiero (Wantagh, N.Y.) recorded seven ground balls.
A closely played first half saw the Chargers hold a slim two goal lead with three straight goals to start the second quarter but the Spartans finished the first half with three unanswered goals to give STAC a 6-5 lead by halftime.
Both teams scored three goals in the third quarter and a DU goal by Keyser tied the score to start the fourth quarter. STAC answered with a goal by Ryan Christensen to regain the lead with over seven minutes to play.
Two DU goals in less than one minute by Cosgrove and Keyser gave the Chargers a one goal lead with six minutes left to play.
Jeremy Poggi scored the game tying goal for the Spartans as time expired to send the game into overtime.
The game remained tied for most of the OT period and with less than one minute to play the Chargers forced a turnover and Kyle Benedetto (Wantagh, N.Y.) picked up a big ground ball to gain possession.
Out of a timeout, the DU's James Conklin buried the game winning goal to lift the Chargers to victory.
The Chargers return to action on the road this weekend when they open conference play with the Griffins of Chestnut Hill College.