Links: Box Score
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – A back-and-forth battle came down to the final seconds Sunday afternoon at James M. Shuart Stadium, as the Merrimack College men's lacrosse team was topped 8-7 in its season opener.
The Warriors had the game's final possession with less than half a minute to play, but a save in the closing 10 seconds stopped their comeback bid. Merrimack battled back in the fourth quarter to get it to within one, but the comeback bid fell just short.
Christian Thomas started his graduate student season with a tremendous effort with a game-high five points by way of two goals and three assists. He was instrumental to the Warriors' comeback effort, as he played a hand in all three second half goals.
Jack Rooney also had a strong day offensively with a pair of goals.
In the cage,
Henry Vogt got a body on 10 shots on goal to earn the tough luck decision.
The Basics
Score: Hofstra 8,
Merrimack 7
Records: Merrimack (0-1, 0-0 NEC) | Hofstra (1-0, 0-0 CAA)
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack only needed 62 seconds to get on the board to start the season. Michael Ferrara shed a defender from just inside the box, then cut inside before he rippled the twine to the near side of the net for his first collegiate tally.
- Hofstra flipped the momentum throughout the rest of the opening 15 minutes, as it scored a trio, including one with five seconds remaining in the quarter.
- The Pride had great chances to stretch the lead in the second quarter, but Vogt was sensational in the Warrior cage. He came up with a pair of point blank saves and ended the first half with seven saves to let Merrimack get back into it.
- With Vogt doing the job on the other end, the attack got to work. Less than two minutes into the second quarter, Trace Hogan scored his first collegiate goal after he quickly turned around a feed from Jack Rooney in-tight.
- The run was on for the Warriors thanks to the tandem of Tommy Rooney and Thomas. On near mirror image sequences, Thomas took the ball from the center of the field and fed Rooney on the far alley for two hard rips to the top of the net.
- Rooney's goals came a little under six minutes apart and the final one was scored with 1:42 remaining in the first half to give the visitors a 4-3 lead into the break.
- The Pride knotted the game at four with 8:44 to go in the third, but Merrimack quickly got the lead back thanks to their legendary duo.
- Sean Black spun free from a defender on the near side, then sent a pass to the front for Thomas, who quickly deposited it into the back of the net to make it 5-4 with 6:55 to go.
- Hofstra went on a run of its own to conclude the third quarter, as it rifled off three straight for a 7-5 edge after 45 minutes.
- The visitors from North Andover refused to go away in the final 15 minutes. Five minutes into the fourth, Thomas took the ball in the near alley and spun off a defender on a 1-on-1 play, then fired one home to make it a one-goal game.
- Four and a half minutes later, Hofstra got its two-goal lead back, but the Warriors still had gas in the tank for a final comeback attempt.
- After a few chances just missed, Merrimack forced a turnover in the attacking end, then Thomas found Jack Rooney alone in front for an easy finish to make it a one-goal game with 33 seconds to play.
- Allyn French dug in and won the ensuing faceoff to get Merrimack the ball back. Hofstra was flagged for interference with 13 seconds to play, then Thomas had one final desperation chance with seven seconds on the clock, but it was turned away.
Notes and Numbers
- Riley Reed had a stellar effort on the back end with a team-high two caused turnovers and he also collected a pair of ground balls.
- Vogt tied for the game-high with four ground balls.
- French ended his afternoon with eight faceoff wins on 17 chances. Karl Sutter took a pair of draws as well.
- Tommy Rooney led all players with nine shots.
- Hogan, Mason Balch, Joe Conley, Ryan Cole, Rory Keverline, Johnny McIntyre and Brian Russell all made their Warrior debuts in the game.
- Shots: 36-31 Merrimack (23-18 SOG)
- EMO: Merrimack: 0-5 // Hofstra: 0-2
- Faceoffs: 11-8 Hofstra // Ground Balls: 25-22 Hofstra
- Turnovers (CT): 17-13 Hofstra (6-3 Hofstra) // Clears: Merrimack: 19-21 // Hofstra: 22-24
Up Next
The Warriors head to Boston Feb. 12 to take on Boston University at Nickerson Field. Faceoff is set for 12:00 pm.
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