GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Frostburg Men's Lacrosse team dropped their road game 14-13 to No. 17 Seton Hill on the road Tuesday evening.
The Griffins were the first to score in the contest, as in the fifth minute Jeremy Sforzo found the back of the net from an assist by Peyton Gensler. After five minutes of tough defense by both teams, Seton Hill's Carter Green made the score 2-0. Not even a minute later, sophomore Gregg Dort won the faceoff for FSU, passed to senior Owen McMcallum, who found senior Chase Buckwalter for the Bobcats' first goal of the game at 2-1. Dort earned another faceoff win which began another scoring motion for Frostburg, with junior Austin Sipes tying the game up 2-2 before senior Jake Bowman gave FSU the lead just before the quarter ended at 3-2.
Going into the second quarter, Frostburg scored back-to-back goals from senior Bubba Love and Bowman to go up 5-2. The next faceoff was won by SHU, which resulted in a goal from Kaden Granberg. FSU caused a turnover in SHU's offensive half, allowing senior Evan Dere to pick up the ground ball and find senior Tanner Donaldson, who placed the ball perfectly for a wide open Buckwalter for another goal to go ahead 6-3. The next five minutes went scoreless as both teams caused turnover after turnover. Finally, Bobcat freshman Hayden McCullough picked up a ground ball and made a successful clear attempt, with Bowman putting another one away, but in the last few seconds of the half, the Griffins scored again to make the score 7-4 going into halftime.
Right out of halftime, Sipes caused a turnover in SHU's defensive half, picked up a ground ball and scored to make things 8-4. To earn a hat trick, Sipes found the back of the net again in the seventh minute of the quarter. The goal was made possible from a caused turnover by Love, a ground ball by senior Dominic Ceresini and an assist from Bowman. SHU would earn an unnecessary roughness penalty which resulted in a man-up opportunity for FSU and a goal by Donaldson to push the lead to 10-4. Mark Strunk was a force to be reckoned with as he won the next four face-offs for Seton Hill, which all resulted in goals for the Griffins to take the game into the final frame with Frostburg up 10-8.
The fourth quarter was a battle as both teams were looking for a win. Junior Cole Blanche increased the Bobcat lead as he scored four minutes into the period. Immediately following that was another one from Love 12-8 and then a goal from sophomore Seamus Kearney for a commanding 13-8 lead. Seton Hill did not count themselves out of the contest, as they scored the next six goals to tie the game 13-13, including four goals in the final minute and a half to send things into overtime.
With four minutes on the clock and fans on the edge of their seats, overtime would begin with Strunk winning the faceoff, scooping up the ball and taking a shot that went high. The next shot by Kaden Granberg was saved by senior goalie Mitch Meckley. FSU had a successful clear attempt but had a turnover caused by Kage Williams. Back on FSU's defensive end Meckley would make another save, but the Bobcats were called for a one-minute tripping penalty. On the man-up opportunity, SHU's Vincent Cogliandro found the back of the net, which ended the game Seton Hill 14, Frostburg 13.
Bowman had an outstanding afternoon, finishing with three goals and three assists for a game-high six points, followed by Sipes' four points on three goals and an assist. Senior Matt Sharkey led the defense with five caused turnovers and four groundballs.
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 8-1 and Seton Hill moves to 6-3 on the year. The Bobcats are back in action Saturday, April 1 as they take on D'Youville at 1pm in Bobcat Stadium. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.
