Men’s Lacrosse Uses Last-Minute Goal to Take Down Saint Michael’s, 10-9

COLCHESTER, Vt. (March 12, 2016) -- The Franklin Pierce University Men's lacrosse team traveled to Saint Michael's on Saturday, and neither team led by more than one goal all game, until Saint Michael's took a two-goal lead early in the fourth quarter. The Ravens then came back to tie, and it was freshman attack Luke Tracy (Pelham, N.H.) who put home the game-winning goal with 1:09 to play, as Franklin Pierce took the Northeast-10 Conference match-up at Duffy Field, 10-9.

The Ravens advance to an overall record of 1-1, including 1-0 in conference play. Saint Michael's falls to 0-2 overall and 0-2 in the NE-10.

The Purple Knights opened the game with a goal 3:18 in by sophomore attackman Brian Loughlin. Franklin Pierce was able to respond with back-to-back tallies from sophomore midfielder Sean Delea (Hampstead, N.H.) and junior defensemen Robert Meyers (Pompton Lakes, N.J.), but Saint Michael's got the last goal of the quarter with one minute to go. It was a man-up goal by junior midfielder Andrew Colyer, to take the lead going into the second, 3-2.

In the second quarter, both teams remained neck-and-neck, remaining within a goal of each other. Ravens senior midfielder Brendan Caldeira (Sandwich, Mass.) had the equalizer six seconds before halftime to tie the game going into the second half, 6-6.

The second half got off to a slow start, as the third only yielded one goal for each team, and the score remained tied, 7-7, to enter the final quarter.

Loughlin scored twice as the fourth started to push the Purple Knights ahead, 9-7. Delea and sophomore attack Jack Carney (Dunbarton, N.H.) then connected for back-to-back goals, with Carney's shot tying the game. 9-9.

With just 69 seconds to play, Tracy shot and was able to send the ball past Saint Michael's senior goalkeeper T.J. Bicknell for the game-winner, as the Ravens came away with the 10-9 victory.

Three Ravens recorded two goals each on the day: Delea, Carney and Tracy. Freshman midfielder Jake Castorf (Holbrook, N.Y.) had one goal and two assists to finish with three points. Sophomore midfielder Louis Palumbo (Commack, N.Y.) snagged eight ground balls and won over half of his faceoff on the day. Sophomore goalkeeper Connor Wacksman (Guilderland, N.Y.) improved his record to 1-0 with the win, as he recorded five saves after entering early in the second half.

As a team, the Ravens collected 34 ground balls and caused eight turnovers.

The Purple Knights were lead by Loughlin with three goals, while they collected 36 ground balls and also caused eight turnovers. Bicknell made14 saves, but fell to 0-2 on the season.

The Ravens play next when they travel to Georgian Court for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game on Wednesday, March 16.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce lacrosse apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).