GREENSBORO, N.C.– It was a typical spring game with plenty of rain and wind, but that didn't stop the thrilling back-and-forth battle as the Guilford College men's lacrosse team fell to Marymount University, 13-12, in triple overtime at Appenzeller Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Quakers move to 1-1 on the season, while the Saints earn their first of the season, moving to 1-0.
As a team, Guilford etched 21 points on 12 goals and nine assists, 42 shots with 17 of those on target, and 21 ground balls.
Darius Safavi-Abbassi (Culver City, Calif.) got the start in-between the posts, saving seven shots against seven goals, with a .538 save percentage.
Gavin Dellinger (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) made his return, finishing out the game for the Quakers, securing seven saves against seven goals, notching a .500 save percentage, moving to 0-1 on the season. Jack Brooks got the nod in goal for the Saints, saving eight shots against 12 goals, with a .400 save percentage, improving to 1-0 on the season.
Statistical leaders for the Quakers included
Davis Palombo (Greensboro, N.C.), who delivered a career-high performance, notching four goals and one assist on nine shots, five of which were on target.
Gavin Brown (Charleston, S.C.) continued his hot start, securing his first hat trick of the season on seven shots, with five on target. The junior also added two assists to his stat line.
Seth Woods (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) led the team in assists with three while also contributing one goal to the Quakers' efforts.
Bashwyn Fitch (Charleston, S.C.),
Jacob Mills (Culpeper, Va.), and
Drew Sizemore (Greensboro, N.C.) each tallied one goal and one assist.
Aimery Workman (High Point, N.C.) rounded out the scoring with one goal.
Cam Walters (Greensboro, N.C.) and
Bashwyn Fitch (Charleston, S.C.) each went 2-for-9 in the faceoff circle with Walters claiming three ground balls. Cameron Glass and Winston Horshaw lead the Saints in the circle, with each going 11-for-13 in faceoffs, securing a combined 12 ground balls.
Guilford and Marymount traded goals throughout a highly-contested first quarter. Brown struck first for the Quakers in just 44 seconds of action, assisted by woods. Marymount responded with two goals in quick succession between the 8:07- 6:46 mark of the first but Woods and Workman each responded with a tally of their own late in the first, giving Guilford a 3-2 lead after the first stanza of play.
The Quakers carried that momentum into the second quarter, extending their lead to 7-3 with four unanswered goals. Palombo showcased his scoring ability with two huge goals, while Mills and Brown contributed on the goal fest with one each to push the lead. Guilford's defense applied pressure, causing multiple turnovers early on in the quarter, limiting their offensive opportunities. However, Marymount responded rather quickly in the final minutes of the half, scoring three goals in a four-minute span, including a last-second strike, to cut Guilford's lead to 7-6 at halftime.
The Saints came out strong in the third quarter, quickly tying the game 7-7. Fitch answered back for the Quakers with a powerful unassisted goal to reclaim the lead 8-7. Marymount responded in 54 seconds with a tally of their own, provided by Santino Rossitto, tying the game at 8-8. The period was marked by physical defensive play on both ends, with multiple turnovers and saves but no other goal was seen, closing out the third quarter tied up.
The fourth quarter provided nonstop action and momentum swings, leaving us all on our toes. Opening up the scoring affair in quite possibly the coolest way ever, Sizemore launched a full field shot from his own half to secure an open net goal which may very well be a goal of the year contender. Palombo, not satisfied with just three goals, added a fourth, assisted by Brown, to give the Quakers a 10-8 advantage. Marymount responded five minutes later with a Bryan Maguire goal, cutting the deficit to one. Guilford answered with a goal from Brown, assisted by Fitch, extending the lead to 11-9. However, the Saints struck back with two consecutive goals, tying the game at 11-11 with under two minutes remaining. With 1:47 left, Palombo once again put Guilford ahead, seemingly sealing the victory until Marymount's Maguire delivered a last-second equalizer with just 25 seconds left, forcing the game into overtime at 12-12.
The first two overtime periods were tense and dramatic, with both teams generating scoring chances. Guilford came inches from victory when Mills' shot rang off the post in double overtime. Both goalkeepers, Brooks and Dellinger, made crucial saves to keep their teams alive. Finally, in the third overtime, Mason Vandawater found a small opening in the defense and fired home the game-winning goal at the 3:34 mark, securing the hard-fought win for Marymount.
Guilford will look to bounce back when they travel to face Methodist University on February 19, 2025, in a non-conference matchup. Start time is set for 6 P.M.
#GoQuakes
