Box Score

Oneonta, NY -- It took some overtime heroics from Dustin Gatt '14, but the Elmria College men's lacrosse team picked up their first Empire 8 Conference win of the season by defeating Hartwick College, 9-8. David Evert '14 tallied three goals and three assists in the win, his final assist coming on Gatt's game-winning goal 1:24 into the overtime period.
 
Hartwick, who was also in search of their first conference win, opened up the afternoon's scoring just over two minutes into the first quarter. The Soaring Eagles, however, would respond with four unanswered goals, from four different goal scorers, to take a 4-1 lead. Gatt got things started with 9:46 to play in the first quarter on a goal assisted by Griffin Foley '17. Christian Archambeault '14 followed nearly two minutes later to give EC a 2-1 lead and then Evert, who had assisted on Archambeault's goal, netted a goal of his own to make it a 3-1 game. Leading goal scorer, Brady Richards '14, recorded his 19th goal of the season to give the Purple and Gold a 4-1 lead after the first quarter of play.
 
EC was shutout in the second quarter but the Soaring Eagles maintained a 4-3 lead at the break thanks to their defense and goaltender Wyatt Katsos '17. Hartwick outshot Elmira 16-7 in the second quarter, with six of those shots put on frame, but Katsos made four of his 11 total saves to keep EC in front.
 
The Hawks tied the game at four after scoring a man-up goal early in the third quarter, but Richards would net his second and third goals of the game to put the Soaring Eagles back on top. Their lead, however, would be short-lived as Hartwick would score twice in a minute span to create the game's third tie. EC took a 7-6 lead into the fourth quarter after Evert scored his second goal of the game.
 
Evert wasted little time completing his hat trick as his third goal of the afternoon, assisted by fellow senior Brian Conzola '14, gave EC a two-goal lead. Hartwick, however, would not go away as the Hawks would eventually tie the game with 1:51 to play. The Hawks would win the ensuing faceoff and get one final shot at netting the game-winner, but their offering would go wide.
 
The overtime period was controlled completely by the Soaring Eagles. John Bigelow '16 won the opening faceoff, one of his 12 faceoff wins of the afternoon, setting up Gatt's heroics. Once EC got into their offense, it was just a matter of time until Evert found Gatt for the game-winning score.
 
The Soaring Eagles will look to carry this momentum into their next contest, scheduled for Monday, April 14th at Oswego State. The non-conference game is set to start at 4:00 p.m.