Alex Connolly with two goals in the second half for the
Ravens
COLCHESTER, Vt. (April 16, 2014) – Eddie
Noonan (Foxboro, Mass.) scored the game-winner midway
through the first overtime, and the Franklin Pierce University
men's lacrosse team overcame an early five-goal deficit to
pick up a 9-8 win at Saint Michael's on Wednesday at Duffy
Field in Colchester, Vt.
The win marked Franklin
Pierce's first triumph over Saint Michael's since 2001,
and snapped a current three-game losing streak to improve to 6-5
overall and 4-5 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The six wins are
the second most for a single season in program history, and just
one shy of tying the leading mark of seven set back during the 2012
campaign.
Noonan finished with a team-high
five points on two markers and three assists. His second tally came
in the extra session, and was set up by a nice dish from sophomore
Brenden Caldeira (Sandwich, Mass.), who was
credited with an assist on the play.
One of Noonan's helpers came
with 2:44 remaining in regulation, as he set up Kevin
Dargin's (Littleton, Mass.) fourth goal that put the
Ravens on top for the first time in the game at 8-7.
The marker was impressive in that
it capped a 4-0 surge, and gave Franklin Pierce the lead after it
had spotted St. Mike's the opening five goals over the first
nine minutes of the contest. The Ravens looked like they had pulled
off the impressive come-from-behind win, but with just :17 left Asa
Sargent threw in a strike to knot it at 8-8 and send it to extra
time.
Dargin's four goals were a
game-high, and gave him 28 for the season, which set a career-high
for a single year. His 28 markers are also tied for the third most
for a campaign in program history. If that wasn't enough,
Dargin also moved into second place in program history with 72
career markers, becoming just the second player in the record book
to top 70 goals for a career. He stands just five goals shy of
moving into first place in program history.
Noonan's two goals gave him
21 for the year, marking his second-straight season in topping 20
goals for a campaign. He missed last year due to injury, but in
2012 tossed in 21 goals.
Saint Michael's outshot the
Ravens, 40-32, including a commanding 12-3 advantage in the first
15 minutes as the Purple Knights built a 5-0 lead. Tim McDonald
scored just 15 seconds into the contest, and Jamie McGill capped
the opening rally with a marker just 32 seconds after the previous
one was scored by Ben Overslaugh.
Despite the opening goals, Franklin
Pierce goalie Don Denman (Exeter, N.H.) stood
strong after that, and finished with a season-high 17 saves to earn
the win and improve to 6-5 on the year. He turned aside seven of
eight shots faced in the third quarter as Franklin Pierce was
making its rally.
Dargin threw in back-to-back goals
to open the second quarter, and Noonan added one just minutes
later. While Denman was standing on his head in the third and
fourth quarters, Dargin continued throwing in strikes, while
Alex Connolly (West Newbury, Mass.) got into the
act by putting in two goals, and Erik Kelly (Tewksbury,
Mass.) adding one of his own.
Franklin Pierce took advantage of
its man-up opportunities by going for a 2-for-6 clip, while showing
great discipline by only taking two penalties and shutting down
Saint Michael's both times.
McDonald and Sargent each scored
twice to pace the Purple Knights' attack.
Franklin Pierce returns to action
Saturday when the Ravens travel to face Bentley in Waltham, Mass.
at 7 p.m.
For more information on Franklin
Pierce men's lacrosse, please visit the team's page at
http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu. To follow the
program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on
YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports),
Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics)
and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens).
Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce men's lacrosse
apparel can do so on the athletic department's online store
at http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)
