DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University men's lacrosse team scored three goals in the final 42 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime, and junior long-pole Sean Mylod buried the game-winner 3:08 into the extra session to give the Aggies a triumphant, 12-11, victory over visiting Albright College.
The non-conference win moves DelVal to 4-3 overall while the Lions fell to 1-5.
The Aggies fell into a 3-0 deficit less than four minutes into the game and went into the second quarter down, 4-2. Albright got back to a three-goal advantage early in the second, but DelVal was able to pot three in the second to cut it to a one-point game at the half, 6-5.
The Aggies outscored the Lions 3-2 in the third including a man-up tally by Brett Ziegler that knotted the score at 8-8 going into the fourth quarter.
Albright benefited from a pair of man-up opportunities in the fourth to extend its lead back to three, 11-8 with just 5:12 left in regulation.
DelVal's dramatic comeback began with Matt Waibel drawing in a pair of defenders and kicking a pass out to Brandon Keller who wired one to the top corner 13 yards out to make it 11-9. Just 34 seconds later, Waibel scored his fourth of the game from nearly the same spot to pull the home team within one. The Aggies won the ensuing faceoff with Chris Dearden scooping the ground ball and dishing off to Dylan Brasch who made no mistake from 11 yards out as he beat the keeper to the far corner to tie the game with 2:39 left in regulation.
Albright committed two fouls down the stretch but the Aggies could not capitalize on either of the one- minute man-up opportunities and the game went to overtime at 11-11.
DelVal had the first possession of the overtime, but came away empty handed and the Lions marched down the other way. They got a shot on goal that DelVal keeper Jim Murphy absorbed and quickly started the Aggies on a clear attempt the other way with 1:09 on the clock. Murphy cleared to Michael Florig, Florig advanced over the timeline with a pass to George Evanick, Evanick got the ball to PJ Rafferty, and Rafferty calmly found a cutting Mylod who made no mistake from in tight as he beat the keeper to the stick side to send the home team into a frenzy on the field with a 12-11 victory.
Keller finished with a team-high five points on four goals and an assist. Rafferty and Brasch each had four points with four assists, and four goals, respectively. Brett Ziegler scored three times, Dearden had two assists and Waibel had one to round out the scoring for DelVal.
Dearden and Luke Kelchner combined to win 11-of-16 faceoffs as the Aggies were 13-for-25 for the game. Kelchner added five ground balls and two caused turnovers to his total while Mylod led the team with seven ground balls and also finished with two caused turnovers.
Albright's Harrison Bodwell and Cole Genneken combined for six goals, four assists, and 10 points and Ryan Janowski led the defense with five ground balls and four caused turnovers.
The Aggies will close their three-game home stand and begin a stretch of four conference games to close the season when it hosts Wilkes University this Wednesday at 7 p.m.
