Dalton Copeland’s third goal of the game with 50 seconds remaining in regulation capped a terrific fourth-period comeback by the Dominican University of California men’s lacrosse team, but Anthony Malcolm scored the game-winner in overtime as Mars Hill College escaped with a 10-9 victory over the Penguins Tuesday night.
Jake Fritz and Cody Bernstein had two goals apiece for Dominican (1-2) while teammates Cam Evangelho and Kevin Powers accounted for the team’s other goals against the Lions (4-1), who were ranked No. 12 in the country during the preseason. The Penguins kept pace with them, launching 30 shots to Mars Hills’ 35.
“The fourth quarter was almost like a track meet,” said Head Coach Ned Webster. “Both teams were running up and down the field trying to create.”
In weather fit for Penguins — cold and rainy conditions ahead of an incoming snow storm — Dominican trailed 9-7 on the scoreboard and 36-19 in groundballs when Bernstein tallied with 4:41 remaining. After defenseman Brian Raaka caused a turnover with 1:32 to play, the Penguins came out of a timeout and Copeland scored the game-tying goal, his fourth of the season. He had 11 shots and nine shots on goal.
“That was awesome,” Webster said. “We were feeling it. We could taste it. It [victory] was right there.”
Dominican goalkeeper Sean Donohue made his 14th and final save of the game, stopping a Malcolm shot at the buzzer to force overtime then, in overtime, Copeland was robbed of a potential game-winning goal on a save by Mars Hill goalie Patrick McMahon.
“Dalton played very well,” Webster said. “He dodged hard and he made good choices with the ball.”
It was a back-and-forth battle in the first half as well and the Penguins, taking advantage of nine turnovers by the home team, struck quick twice. Fritz scored goals 19 seconds apart in the first period to take a 2-1 lead but needed a Powers goal with 34 seconds remaining in the opening period to force a 3-3 tie.
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