In an NCAA DI season of classics, this one is right up there. Penn utilized a goal with :29 on the clock to set up up a game winner just :17 into Overtime to advance to the next round of the NCAA Championships with a Thrilling 11-10 defeat of the Richmond Spiders at Penn Park in Philadelphia.
Kevin M Neibauer
LaxPhilly – Division of the Edge of Philly Sports Network.
Let’s Get to It, Shall We?
Richmond went up 2-0 with Dalton Young (3g) at 11:02 and Joe Gooley (1g) ten seconds later to give the Spiders the early edge. Penn rallied with a five goal run courtesy of Dylan Gerger (2g,1a) putting home a Ben Smith set up, Smith (5g,1 helper) decided to put one home. Smith would do the deed again with help from Gabe Furey (3a) a minute later. Sam Handley (3g,1a) with Cam Rubin (1g) slamming home his 20th on a man advantage set up by Sophomore, Jack Schultz (1a) closed the first.
End of 15:00, Quakers 5, Spiders 2.
Second Quarter:
Rochmond dominated with a a 4-2 quarter. Ryan Lanchbury (1g,2a) for Richmond and Handley netting his 35th kicked things off. Lance Madonna (1g, 2a), Young getting his second at 6:36 and his third off a Ryan Dunn feed pushed the Spiders to a three goal rally. Ben Smith converted a pretty Gerger feed to end the half.
At the Half, 7-6 the Penn way.
To the Third:
Richmond made it 6 of the last seven goals with Braden McClure (1g) benefitting from a sweet Jake Saunders.(1a) feed at 13:13 followed with Ryan Dunn (2g,1a) being the beneficiary of a Madonna set up. Penn took a breath and fired back with the 36th from Handley at 2:26.
Third in the Books and We Are at an 8-8 Affair.
Here We Go:
Furey found Gerger in an opening with Gerber putting home his 48th. Luke Frankeny (1g) got it even on a man up marker when he buried a crisp Lanchbury feed. With 3:55 remaining, Lanchbury continued his hot hand and hit Dunn for another man up marker that seemed to seal the Penn fate. If you thought that, you were sadly mistaken.
Handley laid a perfect pass that Smith put home with just :29 on the clock and, off to overtime they would go. Penn face off specialist, Jamie Zusi won the extra time draw with Furey scooping and and going in on Richmond netminder, Zach Vigue. The shot hit Vigue with Richmond recovering. Penn’s Ben Bedard forced a turnover resulting in a time out. A beautifully designed play resulted in Furey finding an open Smith who delivered his fifth and the game winner.
News and Notes:
• Penn had the edge in shots, 39-35 while Richmond was a bit more accurate with a 25-22 edge on shots on net. Senior, Patrick Burkinshaw stopped 15 Spiders tries with counterpart, Vigue denying Penn 11 times.
• Turnovers had Penn with 19 to the 17 for the Spiders. Ground Balls went the way of the Quakers,33-27.
• Faceoffs we’re 17-8 the Penn way with the Quakers, Jamie Zusi scooping 9 ground balls to go with his 17 of 25 from the X. Both teams were perfect on the extra man with Richmond going 2 for 2 and Penn 1 for their 1.
Penn Advances in Heart Stopper
Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
