University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
#rv Fairfield
Delaware Drops Second Straight Overtime Stunner as Hens Fall to Fairfield 12-11
4/18/2015 5:09:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
• Boxscore
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- For the second straight week, the University of Delaware men's lacrosse squad used a spirited fourth quarter comeback to send a game into overtime.
But the Blue Hens came up short in the extra session once again Saturday as Delaware dropped a heartbreaking 12-11 decision in double overtime to host Fairfield in a Colonial Athletic Association battle at Rafferty Stadium.
Delaware (4-10, 0-4 CAA), which lost its fifth straight game, outscored Fairfield 5-0 in the fourth quarter and sent the game into overtime on a goal by senior attackman Beau Jones (Germantown Academy/Philadelphia, Pa.) with 5:55 left in regulation. After neither team could score in the first extra session, Fairfield finally broke the stalemate on a sudden death goal by Tristan Sperry just one minute into the second overtime frame.
In Delaware's previous outing last Saturday, the Hens rallied in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime before Drexel scored the game-winner just under two minutes into the extra session.
Jones finished the game with a goal and a career-high tying five assists for the Blue Hens while senior Tom Holland (Calvert Hall/Baltimore, Md.), sophomore midfielder Jackson Finigan (Concord-Carlisle/Concord, Mass.), and freshman attack Mike Handlan (Moorestown/Moorestown, N.J.) each scored twice and senior midfielder Jeff Heath (St. Joseph's Prep/Newtown Square, Pa.) added a goal and an assist. Senior goalkeeper Brett Anton (Madison/Madison, N.J.) recorded 16 saves, giving him 31 over the last two outings.
CAA newcomer Fairfield (8-5, 3-1 CAA), which entered the game receiving votes in the USILA Top 20 poll, won for the sixth time in the last seven outings as Sperry, Federico, Joe Rodrigues, and TJ Neubauer each scored two goals with Sperry and Federico each dishing out two assists. The Stags outshot the Hens 47-32 and held a big 19-8 advantage on faceoffs.
Delaware tied the game at 3-3 late in the first quarter before Fairfield came back with four straight goals over a span of five minutes to take a 7-3 advantage. However, the Hens got goals by Finigan and Brian Kormondy to close the first half and cut the Stags' margin to 7-5 at the break.
Fairfield appeared to take control of the game by outscoring the Hens 4-1 in the third stanza to take an 11-6 lead, but Delaware dominated the final frame of regulation.
The Hens outscored Fairfield 5-0 during the quarter, getting early goals from John O'Connor and Finigan and then consecutive tallies from Handlan, Holland, and Jones in a span of 2:25, including Jones' equalizer at the 5:55 mark. Delaware had a chance to win in regulation but Fairfield goalkeeper Tyler Behring saved shots by Holland and Kormondy in the final four seconds to preserve the tie.
Delaware had two shots in the first extra session but couldn't find the back of the net while Fairfield had three shots in the final 1:11 but could not connect. Fairfield won the opening faceoff of the second overtime period and held the ball for one minute before Sperry's winning shot.
HEN SCRATCHINGS:
• Hens have lost five straight games for the first time since dropping the final five decisions of the 2003 season
• Delaware played its first double overtime game since an 11-10 triple overtime win over UMBC in 2010
• The Hens have now played in consecutive overtime games for the first time since 1995 when UD posted back-to-back 12-11 overtime wins over Vermont and New Hampshire to end the season
• Delaware will close out the 2015 season this Friday, Apr. 24, at Massachusetts
AGATE:
Delaware.....3....2....1.....5....0....0.....11
Fairfield.......4....3....4.....0....0....1.....12
Scoring (Goals-Assists):
Delaware - Tom Holland (2-1); Jackson Finigan (2-0); Mike Handlan (2-0); Beau Jones (1-5); Jeff Heath (1-1); Brian Kormondy (1-0); Paul Urbank (1-0); John O'Connor (1-0).
Fairfield - Drew Federico (2-2); Tristan Sperry (2-2); Joe Rodrigues (2-1); TJ Neubauer (2-0); Colin McLinden (1-1); Jake Knostman (1-0); Nick Guida (1-0); Dave Fleming (1-0).
Shots: D - 32, F - 47; Saves: D - 16 (Brett Anton), F - 10 (Tyler Behring); Groundballs: D - 24, F - 40; Faceoffs: D - 8, F - 19; Turnovers: D - 11, F - 16; Clears: D - 16 of 21, F - 11 of 13; Penalties: D - 4 for 3:00, F - 1 for 0:30; Extra Man Goals: D - 0 for 1, D - 1 for 4; Attendance: 1,285.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
