When a team is three goals ahead of the fifth-ranked collegiate squad in the United States, there can be nothing more exhilarating. But when that same team loses it all in about 10 minutes there is nothing more devastating.
The Binghamton University men’s lacrosse team (4-8, 2-4 America East) dropped out of the AE championships, losing to the Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers (10-3, 6-0) in sudden-death overtime on Thursday 6-5.
“It was a spirited game,” said BU head coach Ed Stephenson. “We fought a hard battle, but it ended up not coming in.”
The Bearcats held a three-point lead 3 minutes, 11 seconds into the fourth quarter following a goal by BU sophomore Steven Carlson and it looked like they were on the verge of upsetting the Retrievers. UMBC, however, had other ideas in mind. With 9:30 remaining, yellow and black struck back, and in about three minutes evened it up 5-5.
The Bearcats put up four shots on goal against UMBC in the remaining 6:20, but the team could not make the points, throwing the game into sudden death. The extra period was over as quickly as it started. Retriever junior attack Ryan Smith placed the game winning goal 53 seconds into overtime.
“It was tough,” Stephenson said. “We held them five to regulation in conference because we had tremendous strength on the defensive end. I see that as a phenomenal accomplishment.”
Despite the loss, Stephenson believes the Bearcats gained a lot in this game.
“A team like us holding a lead like we did is unheard of,” Stephenson said. “That was one of the best defensive games I have ever seen in my 20 years [as coach].”
Binghamton held the Retrievers to their lowest score in a conference game this season. BU did not allow UMBC to lead until the overtime winner.
UMBC midfield sophomore Kyle Wimer had the game high two goals and one assist, while the team gathered 30 ground balls and attempted 38 shots.
BU junior goaltender Larry Kline made a total of 11 saves while Binghamton picked up 24 ground balls. Carlson had the team high two goals.
Binghamton took the lead in the middle of the first quarter with a shot by junior assist Jake Boyce, but UMBC leveled up in the last second of the period with an assisted shot by sophomore attack Matt Latham to tie the score 1-1. The Bearcats gained another point the second and kept the Retrievers without scoring. UMBC tried to come back again in the third with a goal but Binghamton doubled its efforts to take a two-point lead, 4-2. The Bearcats widened the gap to three early into the last quarter but the Retrievers found its center and went on a three-point tear to tie the game and bring it into overtime. The match ended when UMBC placed a shot 53 seconds into the period.
After the game Stephenson said the team would not dwell on the loss.
“We are not going to think about the game or next season tonight,” Stephenson said. “We just look forward to going home and stay together.”