Utica, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly men's lacrosse team won a 13-12 thriller against SUNY Canton thanks to a last second goal from Luke Taylor. Six different Wildcats registered goals, while reigning NAC Defensive Player of the Year Joseph VanZandt made 11 saves in net.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SUNY Canton struck first when Jonney Mclear found the back of the net just over two minutes into the contest. The Wildcats would respond quickly, as Luke Taylor evened the score at 1-1. The teams continued to trade goals, with Canton taking a 2-1 lead on an Alex Jacobs strike before Wildcat Ryan Carroll tied it up at 2-2 midway through the opening quarter.
The Kangaroos would capitalize on a man-up opportunity late in the first, with Michael Newcomb scoring to give his team a 3-2 advantage heading into the second quarter.
Canton extended its lead to 4-2 early in the second as Charles Grandaw converted off a feed from Mesler, but the Wildcats answered back with consecutive goals from Carroll and Taylor to tie the game at 4-4. Grandaw netted his second goal of the half to briefly restore Canton's lead at 5-4, but the Wildcats once again had a response, as Payton Thomas scored with just under five minutes remaining to knot the score at 5-5 heading into halftime.
SUNY Poly struck first in the third quarter, as Ian Short broke the halftime deadlock with a goal at 10:51 to give his team a 6-5 lead. Less than two minutes later, Kai Hew extended the Wildcats advantage to 7-5. Canton responded swiftly, with Devin Guerriero finding the back of the net to cut the deficit to one. However, minutes later, Ryan Carroll restored SUNY Poly's two-goal lead with a score.
Eli Bullock netted a goal just 15 seconds later, bringing the score to 8-7. Both goalkeepers, Canton's Hayden Todd and SUNY Poly's Joseph VanZandt, made crucial saves down the stretch to keep the game close. But with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter, Cooper Fitzgerald capitalized on a feed from Hew to push the Wildcats ahead 9-7 heading into the final frame.
Early in the fourth, SUNY Poly continued to build its lead when Payton Thomas found the net at 12:15, making it a 10-7 game. The Kangaroos countered with a goal from Jonney Mclear. The Wildcats responded quickly as Hew notched his second goal of the game, this time on a man-up opportunity.
SUNY Canton mounted a furious rally in the final eight minutes. Mesler led the charge, scoring at 8:11 and again at 7:46 to bring Canton within one. Just over a minute later, Mesler completed his hat trick, tying the game at 11-11. The momentum seemed to shift in the Kangaroos favor, but Wildcat Luke Taylor would deliver a clutch goal at 4:33 to put his team back on top.
With just over two minutes remaining, SUNY Canton's Alex Jacobs scored off a feed from Charles Grandaw, once again evening the score at 12-12. Both teams scrambled for a late go-ahead goal, with Canton's Todd making a crucial save on Carroll in the final minutes. However, with just 22 seconds left, Taylor struck again, delivering the game-winning goal for the Wildcats. The Wildcats would close out the game on top 13-12.
"Very proud of the team tonight," said head coach Eric Miccio. "The players showed a lot of character when things didn't go well for us and ultimately got the job done. Really proud of the group and we now know where we are and where we must improve. We are looking forward to the challenge"
