DANVILLE, Ky. - The University of the South men's lacrosse team saw a man-up goal with 24 seconds left in regulation by Centre College to capture the 2023 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Tournament Championship, 10-9, Sunday from Andy Frye Stadium.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Score: (1) Centre (12-3) 10, (2) Sewanee (11-5) 9
Sewanee Athletics Social Media | Twitter/Instagram: @SewaneeTigers
Men's Lacrosse Social Media | Twitter/Instagram: @SewaneeTigerLax
HOW IT HAPPENED
-After each team scored a goal in the first quarter, both teams got the offense moving in the second quarter. Trailing 2-1 early in the period,
Jack Westfall, following a Centre turnover, made it 2-2 after clearing the keeper.
-A couple of minutes later,
Luke Valentine followed with a strike of his own to give the Tigers the lead again.
-The offense kept working from there, scoring four of the next five goals to take control of the period.
-The Purple and White pushed the lead to 7-3 on a
Charles Moran goal late in the half. However, Center took the next face off and scored with a second left in the half to make it a 7-4 score after 30 minutes.
-The Colonels began the come back in the third, limiting the Tigers to just three shots en route to retaking the lead, 8-7, with 3:57 left in the period.
-The Tigers'
Drew Perun won the ensuing face off and scored quickly thanks to
Will Wyckoff to make it 8-8 with 3:21 left in the period.
-Tied at eight goals apiece going into the final quarter, Centre started the scoring 48 seconds into the period with a Max Spears goal.
-From there, each team played defense very well, but after a Centre turnover with three minutes to go,
Luke Valentine found the back of the net to make the game even again with 2:55 to go.
-Despite the Colonels winning the ensuing face off, their next shot was off the post, and the ball was right back to the Tigers. However, a turnover with less than a minute remaining gave the ball right back to the home team.
-As Centre was making its transition, a penalty was whistled on Sewanee with 39 seconds, which gave the Colonels the extra-man opportunity. And they took advantage of it. With 24 seconds remaining, the home team made it 10-9.
-Sewanee did win the next face off, and they had a shot attempt go wide with 12 seconds left. Staying with Sewanee, and after a Centre timeout, the Colonel defense held the Tigers in check and could not get a shot off.
SAA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Below are the selections for the SAA All-Tournament Team:
Will Hubbs - Centre (MVP)
Ryan Black - Centre
Alex Mozingo – Centre
Max Speers – Centre
Jack Selner – Sewanee
Greg Ix – Sewanee
Luke Valentine – Sewanee
Drew Downes – Rhodes
Kyle Winter – BSC
Maximus LaMendola – Hendrix
Rob Mareski - Berry
SEWANEE KEY STATISTICS
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Luke Valentine led the Tigers with four goals on the day on offense.
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Greg Ix (9-5) matched a career-high 14 saves for the Tigers.
CENTRE KEY STATISTICS
-Max Speers posted four points thanks to a hat trick to lead the Colonels.
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